Method and kit having layered device for detecting biological component by interference color

Claim 1

A method for detecting a component of a biological system, which comprises providing a biological component detecting device composed of a light reflecting substrate (I), made of a metal or metal alloy itself or having a surface of a metal or metal alloy, and being substantially free from diffused reflection, a light interference layer (II) formed on the substrate (I), and a layer (III) of a substance for detecting said biological component provided at least in a region on the layer (II), wherein the light interference layer (a) does not have substantial reflecting characteristics to visible light, namely a wavelength of 300 to 800 nm, (b) has a thickness and refractive index controlled such that an increase in the thickness of the layer (III) appears as a change in interference color, and (c) has a surface with sufficient affinity for the layer (III); contacting said device with a solution containing the biological component to be detected; then forming a light-transmitting reflecting layer (IV) on its surface, wherein said layer (IV) is a layer of a metal; and thereafter detecting the color of light interference or the brightness of the reflected light on the surface of the device.

Claim 2

A method for detecting a component of a biological system, which comprises providing a biological component detecting device composed of a light reflecting substrate (I), made of a metal or metal alloy itself or having a surface of a metal or metal alloy, and being substantially free from diffused reflection, a light interference layer (II) formed on the substrate (I), and a layer (III) of a substance for detecting said biological component provided at least in a region on the layer (II), wherein the light interference layer (a) does not have substantial reflecting characteristics to visible light, namely a wavelength of 300 to 800 nm, (b) has a thickness and refractive index controlled such that an increase in the thickness of the layer (III) appears as a change in interference color, and (c) has a surface with sufficient affinity for the layer (III); contacting said device with a solution containing the biological component to be detected; then forming a light-transmitting reflecting layer (IV) on its surface, wherein said layer (IV) is a layer of a metal; and thereafter detecting the color of light interference or the brightness of the reflected light on the surface of the device.

Claim 3

A method for detecting a component of a biological system, which comprises providing a biological component detecting device composed of a light reflecting substrate (I), made of a metal or metal alloy itself or having a surface of a metal or metal alloy, and being substantially free from diffused reflection, a light interference layer (II) formed on the substrate (I), and a layer (III) of a substance for detecting said biological component provided at least in a region on the layer (II), wherein the light interference layer (a) does not have substantial reflecting characteristics to visible light, namely a wavelength of 300 to 800 nm, (b) has a thickness and refractive index controlled such that an increase in the thickness of the layer (III) appears as a change in interference color, and (c) has a surface with sufficient affinity for the layer (III); contacting said device with a solution containing the biological component to be detected; further reacting another substance capable of reacting with another reaction site in the biological component to be detected after or while reacting the detecting substance with the biological component to subject thc surface layer of the device to contrast enhancement treatment; then forming a light-transmitting reflecting layer (IV) on its surface, wherein said layer (IV) is a layer of a metal; and thereafter detecting the color of light interference or the brightness of the reflected light on the surface of the device.

Claim 4

A method for detecting a component of a biological system, which comprises providing a biological component detecting device composed of a light reflecting substrate (I), made of a metal or metal alloy itself or having a surface of a metal or metal alloy, and being substantially free from diffused reflection, a light interference layer (II) formed on the substrate (I), and a layer (III) of a substance for detecting said biological component provided at least in a region on the layer (II), wherein the light interference layer (a) does not have substantial reflecting characteristics to visible light, namely a wavelength of 300 to 800 nm, (b) has a thickness and refractive index controlled such that an increase in the thickness of the layer (III) appears as a change in interference color, and (c) has a surface with sufficient affinity for the layer (III); contacting said device with a solution containing the biological component to be detected; further reacting another substance capable of reacting with another reaction site in the biological component to be detected after or while reacting the detecting substance with the biological component to subject thc surface layer of the device to contrast enhancement treatment; then forming a light-transmitting reflecting layer (IV) on its surface, wherein said layer (IV) is a layer of a metal; and thereafter detecting the color of light interference or the brightness of the reflected light on the surface of the device.

Claim 5

A method for detecting a component of a biological system, which comprises providing a biological component detecting device composed of a light reflecting substrate (I), made of a metal or metal alloy itself or having a surface of a metal or metal alloy, and being substantially free from diffused reflection, a light interference layer (II) formed on the substrate (I), a hydrophobizing agent layer (P) formed on the layer (II), and a layer (III) of a substance for detecting said biological component provided at least in a region on the layer (P), wherein the light interference layer (a) does not have substantial reflecting characteristics to visible light, namely a wavelength of 300 to 800 nm, (b) has a thickness and refractive index controlled such that an increase in the thickness of the layer (III) appears as a change in interference color, and (c) has a surface with sufficient affinity for the layer (III); contacting said device with a solution containing the biological component to be detected; then forming a light-transmitting reflecting layer (IV) on its surface, wherein said layer (IV) is a layer of a metal; and thereafter detecting the color of light interference or the brightness of the reflected light on the surface of the device.

Claim 6

A method for detecting a component of a biological system, which comprises providing a biological component detecting device composed of a light reflecting substrate (I), made of a metal or metal alloy itself or having a surface of a metal or metal alloy, and being substantially free from diffused reflection, a light interference layer (II) formed on the substrate (I), a hydrophobizing agent layer (P) formed on the layer (II), and a layer (III) of a substance for detecting said biological component provided at least in a region on the layer (P), wherein the light interference layer (a) does not have substantial reflecting characteristics to visible light, namely a wavelength of 300 to 800 nm, (b) has a thickness and refractive index controlled such that an increase in the thickness of the layer (III) appears as a change in interference color, and (c) has a surface with sufficient affinity for the layer (III); contacting said device with a solution containing the biological component to be detected; then forming a light-transmitting reflecting layer (IV) on its surface, wherein said layer (IV) is a layer of a metal; and thereafter detecting the color of light interference or the brightness of the reflected light on the surface of the device.

Claim 7

A method for detecting a component of a biological system, which comprises providing a biological component detecting device composed of a light reflecting substrate (I), made of a metal or metal alloy itself or having a surface of a metal or metal alloy, and being substantially free from diffused reflection, a light interference layer (II) formed on the substrate (I), a hydrophobizing agent layer (P) formed on the layer (II), and a layer (III) of a substance for detecting said biological component provided at least in a region on the layer (P), wherein the light interference layer (a) does not have substantial reflecting characteristics to visible light, namely a wavelength of 300 to 800 nm, (b) has a thickness and refractive index controlled such that an increase in the thickness of the layer (III) appears as a change in interference color, and (c) has a surface with sufficient affinity for the layer (III); contacting said device with a solution containing the biological component to be detected; further reacting another substance capable of reacting with another reaction site in the biological component to be detected after or while reacting the detecting substance with the biological component to subject the surface layer of the device to contrast enhancement treatment; then forming a light-transmitting reflecting layer (IV) on its surface, wherein said layer (IV) is a layer of a metal; and thereafter detecting the color of light interference or the brightness of the reflected light on the surface of the device.

Claim 8

A method for detecting a component of a biological system, which comprises providing a biological component detecting device composed of a light reflecting substrate (I), made of a metal or metal alloy itself or having a surface of a metal or metal alloy, and being substantially free from diffused reflection, a light interference layer (II) formed on the substrate (I), a hydrophobizing agent layer (P) formed on the layer (II), and a layer (III) of a substance for detecting said biological component provided at least in a region on the layer (P), wherein the light interference layer (a) does not have substantial reflecting characteristics to visible light, namely a wavelength of 300 to 800 nm, (b) has a thickness and refractive index controlled such that an increase in the thickness of the layer (III) appears as a change in interference color, and (c) has a surface with sufficient affinity for the layer (III); contacting said device with a solution containing the biological component to be detected; further reacting another substance capable of reacting with another reaction site in the biological component to be detected after or while reacting the detecting substance with the biological component to subject the surface layer of the device to contrast enhancement treatment; then forming a light-transmitting reflecting layer (IV) on its surface, wherein said layer (IV) is a layer of a metal; and thereafter detecting the color of light interference or the brightness of the reflected light on the surface of the device.

Claim 9

A method for detecting a component of a biological system, which comprises providing a biological component detecting device composed of a light reflecting substrate (I), made of a metal or metal alloy itself or having a surface of a metal or metal alloy, and being substantially free from diffused reflection, a light interference layer (II) formed on the substrate (I), a reactive interlayer (P) formed on the layer (II), and a layer (III) of a substance for detecting said biological component provided at least in a region on the layer (P), wherein the light interference layer (a) does not have substantial reflecting characteristics to visible light, namely a wavelength of 300 to 800 nm, (b) has a thickness and refractive index controlled such that an increase in the thickness of the layer (III) appears as a change in interference color, and (c) has a surface with sufficient affinity for the layer (III); contacting said device with a solution containing the biological component to be detected; then forming a light-transmitting reflecting layer (IV) on its surface, wherein said layer (IV) is a layer of a metal; and thereafter detecting the color of light interference or the brightness of the reflected light on the surface of the device.

Claim 10

A method for detecting a component of a biological system, which comprises providing a biological component detecting device composed of a light reflecting substrate (I), made of a metal or metal alloy itself or having a surface of a metal or metal alloy, and being substantially free from diffused reflection, a light interference layer (II) formed on the substrate (I), a reactive interlayer (P) formed on the layer (II), and a layer (III) of a substance for detecting said biological component provided at least in a region on the layer (P), wherein the light interference layer (a) does not have substantial reflecting characteristics to visible light, namely a wavelength of 300 to 800 nm, (b) has a thickness and refractive index controlled such that an increase in the thickness of the layer (III) appears as a change in interference color, and (c) has a surface with sufficient affinity for the layer (III); contacting said device with a solution containing the biological component to be detected; then forming a light-transmitting reflecting layer (IV) on its surface, wherein said layer (IV) is a layer of a metal; and thereafter detecting the color of light interference or the brightness of the reflected light on the surface of the device.

Claim 11

A method for detecting a component of a biological system, which comprises providing a biological component detecting device composed of a light reflecting substrate (I), made of a metal or metal alloy itself or having a surface of a metal or metal alloy, and being substantially free from diffused reflection, a light interference layer (II) formed on the substrate (I), a reactive interlayer (P) formed on the layer (II), and a layer (III) of a substance for detecting said biological component provided at least in a region on the layer (P), wherein the light interference layer (a) does not have substantial reflecting characteristics to visible light, namely a wavelength of 300 to 800 nm, (b) has a thickness and refractive index controlled such that an increase in the thickness of the layer (III) appears as a change in interference color, and (c) has a surface with sufficient affinity for the layer (III); contacting said device with a solution containing the biological component to be detected; further reacting another substance capable of reacting with another reaction site in the biological component to be detected after or while reacting the detecting substance with the biological component to subject the surface layer of the device to contrast enhancement treatment; then forming a light-transmitting reflecting layer (IV) on its surface, wherein said layer (IV) is a layer of a metal; and thereafter detecting the color of light interference or the brightness of the reflected light on the surface of the device.

Claim 12

A method for detecting a component of a biological system, which comprises providing a biological component detecting device composed of a light reflecting substrate (I), made of a metal or metal alloy itself or having a surface of a metal or metal alloy, and being substantially free from diffused reflection, a light interference layer (II) formed on the substrate (I), a reactive interlayer (P) formed on the layer (II), and a layer (III) of a substance for detecting said biological component provided at least in a region on the layer (P), wherein the light interference layer (a) does not have substantial reflecting characteristics to visible light, namely a wavelength of 300 to 800 nm, (b) has a thickness and refractive index controlled such that an increase in the thickness of the layer (III) appears as a change in interference color, and (c) has a surface with sufficient affinity for the layer (III); contacting said device with a solution containing the biological component to be detected; further reacting another substance capable of reacting with another reaction site in the biological component to be detected after or while reacting the detecting substance with the biological component to subject the surface layer of the device to contrast enhancement treatment; then forming a light-transmitting reflecting layer (IV) on its surface, wherein said layer (IV) is a layer of a metal; and thereafter detecting the color of light interference or the brightness of the reflected light on the surface of the device.

Claim 14

The method of any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the substance in the biological component detecting substance layer (III) is an antibody, and the biological component to be detected is an antigen.

Claim 15

The method of any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the substance in the biological component detecting substance layer (III) is an antigen, and the biological component to be detected is an antibody.

Claim 16

The method of any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the substance in the biological component detecting substance layer (III) and the biological component to be detected are the same antigen, and an antibody added to the solution containing an antigen to be detected reacts competitively with both antigens.

Claim 17

The method of any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the light-transmitting reflecting layer (IV) is a layer of a metal formed by a colloidal particle coating method.

Claim 21

The method of any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the light reflectivity of the substrate is high such that the reflection on the substrate is balanced on the reflection of the light-transmitting reflecting layer.

Claim 22

The method of any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the light-transmitting reflecting layer (IV) is a layer of a metal formed by a physical vapor deposition method.

Claim 24

The method of any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the interference color is detected by a color difference value calculated in accordance with the equation ##EQU3## X o , Y o , and Z o are tristimulus values of an illuminating light source, and X, Y and Z are tristimulus values of the spectrum of the calorimetric standard observer stipulated by International Committee of Illumination (1931).

Claim 31

A device for detecting a component of a biological system, comprising a light reflecting substrate (I), made of a metal or metal alloy itself or having a surface of a metal or metal alloy, and being substantially free from diffused reflection, a light interference layer (II) formed on the substrate (I), and a layer (III) of a substance for detecting said biological component provided at least in a region on the layer (II), wherein the light interference layer (a) does not have substantial reflecting characteristics to visible light, namely a wavelength of 300 to 800 nm, (b) has a thickness and refractive index controlled such that an increase in the thickness of the layer (III) appears as a change in interference color, and (c) has a surface with sufficient affinity for the layer (III).

Claim 32

A device for detecting a component of a biological system, comprising a light reflecting substrate (I), made of a metal or metal alloy itself or having a surface of a metal or metal alloy, and being substantially free from diffused reflection, a light interference layer (II) formed on the substrate (I), and a layer (III) of a substance for detecting said biological component provided at least in a region on the layer (II), wherein the light interference layer (a) does not have substantial reflecting characteristics to visible light, namely a wavelength of 300 to 800 nm, (b) has a thickness and refractive index controlled such that an increase in the thickness of the layer (III) appears as a change in interference color, and (c) has a surface with sufficient affinity for the layer (III).

Claim 33

A device for detecting a component of a biological system, comprising a light reflecting substrate (I), made of a metal or metal alloy itself or having a surface of a metal or metal alloy, and being substantially free from diffused reflection, a light interference layer (II) formed on the substrate (I), a hydrophobizing agent layer (P) formed on the layer (II), and a layer (III) of a substance for detecting said biological component provided at least in a region on the layer (P), wherein the light interference layer (a) does not have substantial reflecting characteristics to visible light, namely a wavelength of 300 to 800 nm, (b) has a thickness and refractive index controlled such that an increase in the thickness of the layer (III) appears as a change in interference color, and (c) has a surface with sufficient affinity for the layer (III).

Claim 34

A device for detecting a component of a biological system, comprising a light reflecting substrate (I), made of a metal or metal alloy itself or having a surface of a metal or metal alloy, and being substantially free from diffused reflection, a light interference layer (II) formed on the substrate (I), a hydrophobizing agent layer (P) formed on the layer (II), and a layer (III) of a substance for detecting said biological component provided at least in a region on the layer (P), wherein the light interference layer (a) does not have substantial reflecting characteristics to visible light, namely a wavelength of 300 to 800 nm, (b) has a thickness and refractive index controlled such that an increase in the thickness of the layer (III) appears as a change in interference color, and (c) has a surface with sufficient affinity for the layer (III).

Claim 35

A device for detecting a component of a biological system, comprising a light reflecting substrate (I), made of a metal or metal alloy itself or having a surface of a metal or metal alloy, and being substantially free from diffused reflection, a light interference layer (II) formed on the substrate (I), a reactive interlayer (P) formed on the layer (II), and a layer (III) of a substrate for detecting said biological component provided at least in a region on the layer (P), wherein the light interference layer (a) does not have substantial reflecting characteristics to visible light, namely a wavelength of 300 to 800nm, (b) has a thickness and refractive index controlled such that an increase in the thickness of the layer (III) appears as a change in interference color, and (c) has a surface with sufficient affinity for the layer (III).

Claim 36

A device for detecting a component of a biological system, comprising a light reflecting substrate (I), made of a metal or metal alloy itself or having a surface of a metal or metal alloy, and being substantially free from diffused reflection, a light interference layer (II) formed on the substrate (I), a reactive interlayer (P) formed on the layer (II), and a layer (III) of a substrate for detecting said biological component provided at least in a region on the layer (P), wherein the light interference layer (a) does not have substantial reflecting characteristics to visible light, namely a wavelength of 300 to 800nm, (b) has a thickness and refractive index controlled such that an increase in the thickness of the layer (III) appears as a change in interference color, and (c) has a surface with sufficient affinity for the layer (III).