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

1. A method of detecting binding of molecules released from cells grown in a semi-permeable internal sleeve held in contact with or in close proximity to a colorimetric resonant reflectance optical biosensor to one or more specific binding substances, wherein the one or more specific binding substances are immobilized on the surface of the biosensor, the method comprising:

(a) detecting a colorimetric resonant reflectance optical PWV of a distinct location of the biosensor;

(b) growing cells in the semi-permeable internal sleeve held in contact with or in close proximity to the colorimetric resonant reflectance optical biosensor at the distinct location;

(c) detecting the colorimetric resonant reflectance optical PWV of the distinct location;

(d) comparing the PWV of step (a) to the PWV of step (c);

wherein binding of the molecules released from cells grown in the semi-permeable internal sleeve held in contact with or in close proximity to the colorimetric resonant reflectance optical biosensor to the one or more specific binding substances 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 semi-permeable internal sleeve is a removable porous or non-removable porous insert that is held in contact or in close proximity with the surface of a biosensor, wherein the sleeve is permeable to molecules secreted from the cells cultured on its surface and wherein the sleeve is impermeable to whole cells.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more 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.

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

6. 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.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the distinct locations define an array spot of about 50-500 microns in diameter.

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

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

(b) detecting a colorimetric resonant reflectance optical PWV for the one or more distinct locations defining an array within the well;

(c) growing cells in a semi-permeable internal sleeve held in contact with or in close proximity to the well;

(d) detecting the colorimetric resonant reflectance optical PWV for the one or more distinct locations within the well; and

(e) comparing the PWV of step (b) to the PWV of step (d);

wherein the difference between the colorimetric resonant reflectance optical PWV of step (d) in relation to the colorimetric resonant reflectance optical PWV of step (b) indicates the relative binding of one or more molecules secreted from the cells growing on the semi-permeable internal sleeve within a well to the one or more specific binding substances immobilized at distinct locations within the well on the surface of a colorimetric resonant reflectance optical biosensor.

9. 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.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of blood, plasma, serum, gastrointestinal secretions, homogenates of tissues or tumors, synovial fluid, feces, saliva, sputum, cyst fluid, amniotic fluid, cerebrospinal fluid, peritoneal fluid, lung lavage fluid, semen, lymphatic fluid, tears and prostatic fluid.

11. The method of claim 9 , 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.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein an increase in the colorimetric resonant reflectance optical PWV detected in step (d) in relation to the colorimetric resonant reflectance optical PWV of step (b) is a relative measure of the proportion of molecules released from cells grown in the semi-permeable internal sleeve that bind to the one or more specific binding substances immobilized on the biosensor surface.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the difference between the resonant optical biosensor PWV of step (d) in relation to the resonant optical biosensor PWV of step (b) is a relative measure of the molecules released from cells grown in a semi-permeable internal sleeve that are bound to the one or more specific binding substances.