Label-free methods for performing assays using a colorimetric resonant reflectance optical biosensor

1. A method of detecting a change in activity of one or more enzymes or binding partners due to one or more molecules, wherein the enzymes or binding partners cleave or bind one or more specific binding substances, wherein the one or more specific binding substances are immobilized on a surface of a colorimetric resonant reflectance optical biosensor at one or more distinct locations, comprising:

a. detecting a colorimetric resonant reflectance optical PWV (peak wavelength value) of the one or more distinct locations;

b. applying the one or more molecules to the one or more distinct location;

c. applying the one or more enzymes or binding partners to the one or more distinct locations;

d. detecting the colorimetric resonant reflectance optical PWV of the one or more distinct locations;

e. comparing the PWV from step (a) with the PWV from step (d); and

wherein a change in activity of one or more enzymes or binding partners due to one or more molecules is detected.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the colorimetric resonant reflectance optical biosensor comprises an internal surface of a vessel selected from the group consisting of a microtiter well, microtiter plate, test tube, petri dish and microfluidic channel.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more specific binding substances are selected from the group consisting of nucleic acids, peptides, protein solutions, peptide solutions, single or double stranded DNA solutions, RNA solutions,

RNA-DNA hybrid solutions, solutions containing compounds from a combinatorial chemical library, antigen, polyclonal antibody, monoclonal antibody, single chain antibody (scFv), F(ab) fragment, F(ab′) 2 fragment, Fv fragment, small organic molecule, cell, virus, bacteria, polymer and biological sample.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the polymer is selected from the group of long chain molecules with multiple active sites per molecule consisting of hydrogel, dextran, poly-amino acids and derivatives thereof, including poly-l-lysine, poly-d-lysine, poly-phe-lysine and poly-glu-lysine.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more specific binding substances are immobilized onto the surface of the biosensor via a nickel group, amine group, aldehyde group, acid group, alkane group, alkene group,

alkyne group, aromatic group, alcohol group, ether group, ketone group, ester group, amide group, amino acid group, nitro group, nitrile group, carbohydrate group, thiol group, organic phosphate group, lipid group, phospholipid group and steroid group.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more specific binding substances are arranged in an array of distinct locations on the surface of the biosensor.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein a distinct location defines an array spot of about 50–500 microns in diameter.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more specific binding substances are immobilized on the surface of the colorimetric resonant reflectance optical biosensor by a method selected from the group consisting of physical adsorption, chemical binding, electrochemical binding,

electrostatic binding, hydrophobic binding and hydrophilic binding.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the detection comprises:

a. immobilizing one or more specific binding substances in one or more distinct locations defining an array within a well of a microtiter plate, wherein the distinct locations defining an array are located upon the surface of a colorimetric resonant reflectance optical biosensor which comprises an internal surface of the well;

b. detecting a colorimetric resonant reflectance optical PWV for the one or more distinct locations within the well;

c. applying the one or more molecules to the well;

d. applying one or more enzymes or binding partners to the well;

e. detecting a colorimetric resonant reflectance optical PWV for the one or more distinct locations within the well; and

f. comparing the PWV from step (b) with the PWV from step (e); and

wherein a change in activity of one or more enzymes or binding partners due to one or more molecules at each distinct location within a well is detected.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more enzymes are selected from the group consisting of proteases, lipases, nucleases, lyases, peptidases, hydrolases, ligases, kinases and phosphatases.