Sensor platform and method for the parallel detection of a plurality of analytes using evanescently excited luminescence

A sensor platform comprising:

• a continuous substrate;
• and
• a transparent, planar, inorganic, dielectric waveguiding layer provided on said continuous substrate;
• wherein said waveguiding layer includes a plurality of waveguiding regions, and at least one dividing portion divides said waveguiding layer into said plurality of waveguiding regions;
• wherein said at least one dividing portion has an effective refractive index lower than that of said waveguiding regions or has a material on its surface that absorbs coupled-in light;
• wherein said waveguiding regions are provided with one coupling-in grating each or with a common coupling-in grating for coupling-in of light to said waveguiding regions in such a manner that the direction of propagation of a wave vector of the light is maintained after the coupling-in;
• wherein said plurality of waveguiding regions are formed of the same material;
• wherein said plurality of waveguiding regions are arranged so as to permit light coupled-in to said waveguiding regions to cause evanescent excitation of luminescence or a change of luminescence at each of said plurality of waveguiding regions;
• and
• wherein, on the surfaces of said waveguiding regions, one or more specific binding partners are immobilized as chemical or biochemical recognition elements for one or more identical or different analytes.