METHODS, DEVICE AND INSTRUMENT FOR DETECTION OF ANALYTES

摘要

The present invention relates to a method, a device and an instrument for the detection of an analyte (4) in a sample(6). Such method, device and instrument is used in clinical diagnostics, pharmacology, e.g. drug screening, environmental analysis as well as in other fields of analysis like chemistry or biochemistry. According to the present invention, the method for detection of an analyte (4) in a sample comprises the following steps of a) providing at least one particle structure (1) detectable by light scattering and coated with binding entities (2) for said analyte (4); b) contacting the at least one particle structure (1) with the sample (6), c) illuminating the at least one particle structure (1) and measuring the scattered light emitted by individual particle structures (1) at least twice and d) determining a change in the spectral signature of the scattered light as a measure of the presence and/or quantity of the analyte (4) in the sample (6). In order to detect more than one analyte (4) simultaneously particle structures (1) of different classes of particle structures maybe coated with different binding entities. Further, instead of coatig the particle structure (1) with binding entities specific for the analyte (4), the particle structure (1) may be coated with substances (21) competing with said analyte (4) for binding to specific binding entities (2). Any competitive and non-competitive assay format can be put into practice.