Diffractometric sensing device

A diffractometric sensing device (30, 30.1, 30.2, 30.3, 30.4), for analyzing molecular interactions, the device comprising:

• a waveguide (31, 31.1-31.6, 35) confining the light in both transverse directions, with an electromagnetic field cross-section allowing for the light to interact with a grating structure (32) in a carrier medium with a plurality of consecutive lines or surfaces (33) and a plurality of binding sites arranged thereon, the binding sites being configured to bind one or more target molecules, wherein the grating structure (32) is configured to diffract a measurable portion of coherent light (P1, P2) propagating through the waveguide the signal being dependent on molecular interactions at or in the vicinity of the binding sites.

A diffractometric sensing device for analyzing molecular interactions, the device comprising:

• a waveguide arranged on a substrate (41.1, 41.2, 41.3, 41.4, 41.5, 41.6,41.7,41.8, 41,9, 41.10, 41.11, 41.12) and further comprising a light detector (4, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8) and a coherent light source (1, 1.1-1.10) with at least one (1.1, 1.2, 1.6;
• 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8) of the two being integrated on the same substrate (41.1, 41.2, 41,3, 41.4, 41.5, 41.6, 41.7, 41.8, 41.9, 41.10, 41.11, 41.12), further comprising a grating structure (42.1, 42.2, 42.3, 43.4, 42.5, 52.1, 52.2, 52.3, 52.4) in a carrier medium with a plurality of consecutive lines or surfaces and a plurality of binding sites arranged thereon, the binding sites being configured to bind one or more target molecules, wherein the grating structure is configured to diffract a portion of the evanescent field of the coherent light (1.3, 1.4, 1.5) propagating through the waveguide so as to produce a constructive interference signal at the light detector (4, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4,6, 4.7, 4.8), the signal being dependent on molecular interactions at or in the vicinity of the binding sites.

A holographic method (526, 651, 652) to lithographically create a coherent grating structure (522, 523, 524, 525) in a carrier medium with a plurality of consecutive lines or surfaces and a plurality of binding sites arranged thereon, the binding sites being configured to bind one or more target molecules, wherein the grating structure is configured to diffract a measurable portion of light, with the signal being dependent on molecular interactions at or in the vicinity of the binding sites.

A diffractometric sensing device (300) for analyzing molecular interactions, the device comprising:

• a grating structure (306) in a carrier medium integrated into a microwell plate (308) with a plurality of consecutive lines or surfaces (306) and a plurality of binding sites arranged thereon, the binding sites being configured to bind one or more target molecules, wherein the grating structure under illumination is configured to diffract a portion of light (P4) so as to produce a constructive interference signal captured by a light detector (303), the signal being dependent on molecular interactions at or in the vicinity of the binding sites.