Detection and amplification of ligands

A device for the detection of ligand comprising:

• a plurality of particles having at least one receptor attached to said particles, wherein said plurality of particles are provided within a liquid crystalline material and said at least one receptor is capable of binding to a ligand to form a receptor-ligand complex and wherein the formation of said receptor-ligand complex produces an optically detectable signal in relation with the liquid crystalline material.

A method for detecting ligands comprising:

• providing a device capable of detecting ligands, said device comprising a plurality of particles having at least one receptor attached thereto, wherein said at least one receptor is capable of binding to a ligand to form a receptor-ligand complex and wherein the formation of said receptor-ligand complex produces a signal;
• wherein the plurality of particles are disposed in a liquid crystalline material, exposing a sample containing at least one ligand to said device allowing said receptor to interact with said at least one ligand to form at least one receptor-ligand complex, and measuring the signal produced by said receptor-ligand complex formation.