Method for production of moulded bodies, in particular optical structures and use thereof

• US 20040197595A1
• Filed: 02/27/2004
• Published: 10/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayer Intellectual Property GmbH (Bayer AG), Weidmann Plastics Technology AG (Techniplas LLC)
• Original Assignee: Bayer Technology Services GmbH (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Luthi, Heinz, Pawlak, Michael, Bopp, Martin Andreas, Ehrat, Markus, Gmur, Max, Callenbach, Tilo
• Granted Patent: US 7,767,131 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/630
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2045/7356 the temperature of the mould being near or higher than the melting temperature or glass transition temperature of the moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/38 characterised by the material or the manufacturing process B29C33/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/424 Moulding surfaces provided with means for marking or patterning for injection moulding B29C45/372
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/0001 characterised by the choice of material
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/37 Mould cavity walls , i.e. the inner surface forming the mould cavity, e.g. linings
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/372 provided with means for marking or patterning, e.g. numbering articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 11/00009 Production of simple or compound lenses
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2709/08 Glass
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2006/12107 Grating
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/1221 made from organic materials
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/13 Integrated optical circuits characterised by the manufacturing method
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/34 utilising prism or grating G02B6/293 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12597 Noncrystalline silica or noncrystalline plural-oxide component [e.g., glass, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/315 Surface modified glass [e.g., tempered, strengthened, etc.]

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for the manufacture a body from a thermoplastic plastic with a three-dimensionally structured surface, wherein the molding is carried out directly from a master made of glass coated with metal oxide, without the deposition of further coatings on the surface of said master. The invention also relates to bodies manufactured with this method from a thermoplastic featuring a three-dimensionally structured surface as well as to planar optical structures likewise manufactured with this method for generating evanescent-field measuring platforms and to the use thereof.

The invention furthermore relates to a planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform, comprising a first essentially optical transparent, waveguiding layer (a) with refractive index n₁ and a second essentially optical transparent layer (b) with refractive index n₂, where n₁>n₂, in the case of the embodiment of a planar optical film waveguide, or comprising a metal layer (a′) and a second layer (b), in the case of the embodiment for generating a surface plasmon resonance, wherein the second layer (b) comprises a material from the group comprising cyclo-olefin polymers and cyclo-olefin copolymers.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a body from a thermoplastic plastic with a three-dimensionally structured surface, wherein the molding is carried out directly from a master made of glass coated with metal oxide, without the deposition of further coatings on the surface of said master.

2. A method of manufacture according to claim 1, wherein the master comprises a material from the group of materials comprising TiO₂, ZnO, Nb₂O₅, Ta₂O₅, HfO₂, or ZrO₂, particular preference being for TiO₂, Ta₂O5 or Nb₂O₅.

3. A method of manufacture according to claim 1, wherein three-dimensional structures measuring 1-1000 nm and 1 μ

m to 1000 μ

m are molded in a single molding step.

4. A method of manufacture according to claim 1, wherein extended bodies with a three-dimensionally structured surface of more than 1 cm², preferably of more than 10 cm², especially preferably of more than 100 cm², are molded in a single step.

5. A method of manufacture according to claim 1, wherein the molding is carried out using a method from the group of processes comprising injection molding, reaction injection molding (RIM), liquid injection molding (LIM) and hot embossing etc.

6. A method of manufacture according to claim 1, wherein the molding is carried out using an injection molding process.

7. A method of manufacture according to claim 6, wherein the molding is carried out using a variotherm injection molding process.

8. A method of manufacture according to claim 1, wherein the molding material used in said process for producing said body with a three-dimensionally structured surface comprises a material from the group formed by polycarbonates, polymethylmethacrylates, cyclo-olefin polymers and cyclo-olefin copolymers.

9. A method of manufacture according to claim 8, wherein the molding material for producing said body with a three-dimensionally structured surface comprises a material from the group formed by cyclo-olefin polymers and cyclo-olefin copolymers.

24. A body made of a thermoplastic plastic with a three-dimensionally structured surface wherein the molding of said structured surface is carried out directly from a master made of glass coated with metal oxide, without the deposition of further coatings on the surface of said master, in a manufacturing process according to claim 1.

25. A body made of a thermoplastic plastic according to claim 24, wherein the molded surface thereof comprises structures with dimensions of 1 nm-1000 nm.

26. A body made of a thermoplastic plastic according to claim 24, wherein the molded surface thereof comprises structures with dimensions of 1 82 m-1000 μ

m.

27. A body made of a thermoplastic plastic according to claim 24, wherein the molded surface thereof comprises structures with dimensions of 1-1000 nm and 1 μ

m to 1000 μ

m, which are molded in a single step.

28. A body made of a thermoplastic plastic according to claim 24, comprising an extended three-dimensionally structured surface of more than 1 cm², preferably of more than 10 cm², especially preferably of more than 100 cm², which is molded in a single step.

29. A body made of a thermoplastic according to claim 24, wherein the molding is carried out using a method from the group of processes comprising injection molding, reaction injection molding (RIM), liquid injection molding (LIM) and hot embossing etc.

30. A body made of a thermoplastic plastic according to claim 24, wherein the molding is carried out using an injection molding process.

31. A body made of a thermoplastic plastic according to claim 30, wherein the molding is carried out using a variotherm injection molding process.

32. A body made of a thermoplastic plastic according to claim 24, wherein the molding material used in said process for producing said body with a three-dimensionally structured surface comprises a material from the group formed by polycarbonates, polymethylmethacrylates, cyclo-olefin polymers and cyclo-olefin copolymers.

33. A body made of a thermoplastic plastic according to claim 32, wherein the molding material for producing said body with a three-dimensionally structured surface comprises a material from the group formed by cyclo-olefin polymers and cyclo-olefin copolymers.

10. A method for the manufacture of a planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform, wherein said evanescent-field measuring platform comprises a multilayer system, with a metal layer and/or an essentially optically transparent, waveguiding layer (a) with refractive index n₁ and at least a second, essentially optically transparent layer (b) with refractive index n₂, where n₁>

n₂, and where the second layer (b) comprises a thermoplastic plastic and is molded directly from a master made of glass coated with a metal oxide, as part of a molding tool, without deposition of further coatings on the surface of said master.

11. A method for the manufacture of a planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 10, wherein said evanescent-field measuring platform is a planar optical structure for generating a surface plasmon resonance.

12. A method for the manufacture of a planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 10, wherein said evanescent-field measuring platform is a planar optical film waveguide comprising a first essentially optically transparent waveguiding layer (a) with refractive index n₁ and a second, essentially optically transparent layer (b) with refractive index n₂, where n₁>

n₂, and where the second layer (b) of said film waveguide comprises a thermoplastic and is molded directly from a master made of glass coated with a metal oxide, as part of a molding tool, without deposition of further coatings on the surface of said master.

13. A method of manufacture according to claim 10, wherein the master comprises a material from the group of materials formed by TiO₂, ZnO, Nb₂O₅, Ta₂O₅, HfO₂, or ZrO₂, particular preference being for TiO₂, Ta₂O₅ or Nb₂O₅.

14. A method of manufacture according to claim 10, wherein grating structures (c) or (c′

) formed as relief gratings on the surface of the master are transferred to the surface of layer (b) during the molding step.

15. A method of manufacture according to claim 14, wherein said grating structures (c) and/or (c′

) formed as relief gratings are generated in a surface of layer (b) by molding from a master with surface relief gratings complementary to grating structures (c) and/or (c′

), respectively.

16. A method of manufacture according to claim 10, wherein raised areas formed on the surface of the master are transferred in the molding step as recesses in layer (b).

17. A method of manufacture according to claim 16, wherein said recesses in layer (b) have a depth of 20 μ

m to 500 μ

m, preferably of 50 μ

m to 300 μ

m.

18. A method of manufacture according to claim 10, wherein grating structures (c) and/or (c′

) as relief gratings with a depth of 3 nm to 100 nm, preferably of 10 nm to 30 nm, and recesses with a depth of 20 μ

m to 500 μ

m, preferably of 50 μ

m to 300 μ

m, are molded simultaneously in a single step.

19. A method of manufacture according to claim 10, wherein the molding is carried out using a method from the group of processes comprising injection molding, reaction injection molding (RIM), liquid injection molding (LIM) and hot embossing etc.

20. A method of manufacture according to claim 10, wherein the molding is carried out using an injection molding process.

21. A method of manufacture according to claim 20, wherein the molding is carried out using a variotherm injection molding process.

22. A method of manufacture according to claim 10, wherein the molding material used in said process for producing said planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform comprises a material from the group comprising polycarbonates, polymethylmethacrylates, cyclo-olefin polymers and cyclo-olefin copolymers.

23. A method of manufacture according to claim 22, wherein the molding material for creating the essentially transparent layer (b) of said planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform comprises a material from the group formed by cyclo-olefin polymers and cyclo-olefin copolymers.

34. A planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform, wherein said evanescent-field measuring platform comprises a multilayer system, with a metal layer and/or an essentially optically transparent waveguiding layer (a) with refractive index n₁ and at least a second, essentially optically transparent layer (b) with refractive index n₂, where n₁>

n₂, and where the second layer (b) comprises a thermoplastic plastic and is molded directly from a master made of glass coated with a metal oxide, as part of a molding tool, without deposition of further coatings on the surface of said master, in a manufacturing process according to claim 10.

35. A planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 34, wherein said evanescent-field measuring platform is a planar optical structure for generating a surface plasmon resonance.

36. A planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 34, wherein said evanescent-field measuring platform is a planar optical film waveguide comprising a first essentially optically transparent waveguiding layer (a) with refractive index n₁ and a second, essentially optically transparent layer (b) with refractive index n₂, where n₁>

n₂, and where the second layer (b) of said film waveguide comprises a thermoplastic and is molded directly from a master made of glass coated with a metal oxide, as part of a molding tool, without deposition of further coatings on the surface of said master, in a said manufacturing process.

37. A planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 34, wherein grating structures (c) or (c′

) formed as relief gratings on the surface of the master are transferred to the surface of layer (b) during the molding step.

38. A planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 37, wherein said grating structures (c) and/or (c′

) formed as relief gratings are generated in a surface of layer (b) by molding from a master with surface relief gratings complementary to grating structures (c) and/or (c′

), respectively.

39. A planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 34, wherein raised areas formed on the surface of the master are transferred in the molding step as recesses in layer (b).

40. A planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 39, wherein said recesses in layer (b) have a depth of 20 μ

m to 500 μ

m, preferably of 50 μ

m to 300 μ

m.

41. A planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 34, its surface comprising grating structures (c) and/or (c′

) as relief gratings with a depth of 3 nm to 100 nm, preferably of 10 nm to 30 nm, and recesses with a depth of 20 μ

m to 500 μ

m, preferably of 50 μ

m to 300 μ

m, which are molded simultaneously in a single step.

42. A planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 34, comprising an extended three-dimensionally structured surface of more than 1 cm², preferably of more than 10 cm², especially preferably of more than 100 cm², which is molded in a single step.

43. A planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 34, wherein the molding of the essentially optically transparent layer (b) is carried out using a method from the group of processes comprising injection molding, reaction injection molding (RIM), liquid injection molding (LIM) and hot embossing etc.

44. A planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 34, wherein the molding is carried out using an injection molding process.

45. A planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 44, wherein the molding is carried out using a variotherm injection molding process.

46. A planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 34, wherein the material of the second optically transparent layer (b) used in said manufacturing process comprises a material from the group comprising polycarbonates, polymethylmethacrylates, cyclo-olefin polymers and cyclo-olefin copolymers.

47. A planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 46, wherein the material of the second optically transparent layer (b) comprises a material from the group formed by cyclo-olefin polymers and cyclo-olefin copolymers.

51. A planar optical film waveguide according to claim 36, wherein the refractive index of the first optically transparent layer (a) is greater than 1.8.

52. A planar optical film waveguide according to claim 36, wherein the first optically transparent layer (a) comprises TiO₂, ZnO, Nb₂O₅, Ta₂O₅, HfO₂, or ZrO₂, especially preferably TiO₂ and Ta₂O₅.

53. A planar optical film waveguide according to claim 36, wherein the waveguiding layer (a) is in optical contact with at least one optical coupling element for in-coupling of excitation light of one or more wavelengths, from one or more light sources, into layer (a).

54. A planar optical film waveguide according to claim 53, wherein, for the in-coupling of excitation light into the optically transparent layer (a), this layer is in optical contact with one or more optical in-coupling elements from the group comprising prism couplers, evanescent couplers with combined optical waveguides with overlapping evanescent fields, butt-end couplers with focusing lenses, preferably cylinder lenses, arranged in front of one face of the waveguiding layer, and grating couplers.

55. A planar optical film waveguide according to claim 53, wherein the excitation light is in-coupled into the optically transparent layer (a) using one or more grating structures (c) which are featured in the optically transparent layer (a).

56. A planar optical film waveguide according to claim 36, wherein light guided in the optically transparent layer (a) is out-coupled using grating structures (c′

), which are featured in the optically transparent layer (a).

57. A planar optical film waveguide according to claim 55 wherein grating structures (c) and (c′

) featured in the optically transparent layer (a) have the same or different period and are arranged in parallel or not in parallel with one another.

58. A planar optical film waveguide according to claim 57, wherein grating structures (c) and (c′

) may be used alternately as in-coupling and/or out-coupling gratings.

59. A planar optical film waveguide according to claim 36, wherein a further optically transparent layer (b′

) with a lower refractive index than that of layer (a) and with a thickness of 5 nm-10000 nm, preferably 10 nm-1000 nm, is provided between the optically transparent layers (a) and (b) and is in contact with layer (a).

60. A planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 37, wherein large-area grating structures (c) and/or (c′

) are featured over extensive surface areas of said optical structure, preferably over the entire surface area thereof.

61. A planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 37, comprising multiple grating structures (c) and/or (c′

) on a common, continuous substrate in the essentially optically transparent layer (a) and/or the metal layer.

62. A planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 37, comprising a superposition of 2 or more grating structures of differing periodicity with a parallel or nonparallel arrangement of the grating lines.

63. A planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 37, wherein one or more grating structures (c) and/or (c′

) show a three-dimensionally varying periodicity that is essentially perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the excitation light in-coupled into the optically transparent layer (a) or of the surface plasmon resonance generated in the metal layer.

64. A planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 37, wherein grating structures (c) and, where applicable, additional grating structures (c′

) have a period of 200 nm-1000 nm.

65. A planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 37, wherein the resonance angle for in-coupling and out-coupling of a monochromatic excitation light or for excitation of a surface plasmon within an area of a grating structure of at least 4 mm² (with the sides arranged in parallel or not parallel with the lines of the grating structure (c)) or over a distance of at least 2 mm in parallel with the lines does not vary by more than 0.1°

(as deviation from a mean value).

66. A planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 37, wherein grating structures (c) and/or (c′

) are relief gratings with any profile, for example with a rectangular, triangular or semicircular profile.

67. A planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 37, wherein said grating structures (c) and/or (c′

) are formed as relief gratings in the surface of layer (b) facing layer (a) and/or the metal layer and are transferred in the manufacturing process of said waveguide at least to the surface of layer (a) or the metal layer facing layer (b).

68. A planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 67, wherein said relief gratings formed in the surface of layer (b) facing layer (a) or the metal layer are transferred in the deposition of further layers on this surface to the surfaces of these further deposited layers.

69. A planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 37, wherein biological or biochemical or synthetic recognition elements are deposited on the surface of layer (a) or the metal layer, or on an adhesion-promoting layer additionally deposited on layer (a) or the metal layer, for the qualitative and/or quantitative detection of one or more analytes in one or more samples brought into contact with said recognition elements.

70. A planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 69, wherein said adhesion-promoting layer has a thickness of preferably less than 200 nm, especially preferably less than 20 nm, and the adhesion-promoting layer preferably comprises a chemical compound from the group of silanes, functionalized silanes, epoxides, functionalized, charged or polar polymers, thiols, dextrans and “

self-assembled passive or functionalized monolayers or multilayers”

.

71. A planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 69, wherein the biological or biochemical or synthetic recognition elements are immobilized in discrete (spatially separated) measurement areas.

72. A planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 71, wherein discrete (spatially separated) measurement areas are generated by the laterally selective application of biological or biochemical or synthetic recognition elements on the surface of layer (a) or the metal layer, respectively or on an adhesion-promoting layer additionally deposited on layer (a) or the metal layer, respectively, preferably using one or more methods from the group of methods comprising ink-jet spotting, mechanical spotting by means of pin, pen or capillary, micro-contact printing, fluidic contact of the measurement areas with the biological or biochemical or synthetic recognition elements through their application in parallel or intersecting microchannels, upon exposure to pressure differences or to electric or electromagnetic potentials, and photochemical or photolithographic immobilization methods.

73. A planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 69, wherein components from the group comprising nucleic acids (for example DNA, RNA, oligonucleotides) and nucleic acid analogs (e.g. PNA) as well as derivatives thereof with synthetic bases, monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies, peptides, enzymes, aptamers, synthetic peptide structures, glycopeptides, oligosaccharides, lectins, soluble, membrane-bound proteins and proteins isolated from a membrane, such as receptors, ligands thereof, antigens for antibodies (e.g. biotin for streptavidin), “

histidine-tag components” and

complexing partners thereof, cavities generated by chemical synthesis for hosting molecular imprints, etc. are deposited as said biological or biochemical or synthetic recognition elements, or wherein whole cells or cell fragments are deposited as biological or biochemical or synthetic recognition elements.

74. A planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 69, wherein areas between the laterally separated measurement areas are “

passivated”

in order to minimize nonspecific binding of analytes or their tracer compounds, i.e. if compounds are deposited between the laterally separated measurement areas which are “

chemically neutral”

to the analyte or one of its tracer compounds, formed preferably for example from groups comprising albumins, especially bovine serum albumin or human serum albumin, casein, nonspecific polyclonal or monoclonal, heterologous or empirically nonspecific antibodies for the analyte or analytes to be determined (especially for immunoassays), detergents (such as Tween 20{\super®

}), fragmented natural or synthetic DNA not hybridizing with polynucleotides to be analyzed, such as extract from herring or salmon sperm (especially for polynucleotide hybridization assays), or also uncharged but hydrophilic polymers, such as polyethylene glycols or dextrans.

75. A planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 69, wherein up to 1,000,000 measurement areas are provided in a 2-dimensional arrangement and a single measurement area occupies an area of 0.001 mm²-6 mm².

76. A planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 69, wherein multiple measurement areas are arranged in a density of more than 10, preferably more than 100, especially preferably more than 1000 measurement areas per square centimeter on the surface of layer (a) or the metal layer or on an adhesion-promoting layer additionally deposited on layer (a) or the metal layer.

77. A planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 36, wherein the outer dimensions of its base area match the footprint of standard microtiter plates of about 8 cm×

12 cm (with 96 or 384 or 1536 wells)

78. A planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 36, wherein recesses are formed in layer (b) to create sample compartments.

79. A planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 78, wherein said recesses have a depth of 20 μ

m to 500 μ

m, especially preferably 50 μ

m to 300 μ

m.

80. A planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 36, comprising mechanically and/or optically identifiable markings to facilitate adjustment in an optical system and/or to facilitate the connection of said planar optical structure to a further body for creating one or more sample compartments.

81. A method for the qualitative and/or quantitative detection of one or more analytes in one or more samples, wherein said samples are brought into contact with biological or biochemical or synthetic recognition elements, which are immobilized directly or indirectly via an adhesion-promoting layer on the surface of a planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 34, and changes for in-coupling of incident excitation light in a waveguiding layer (a) of a planar optical film waveguide and/or out-coupling of light emanating from said film waveguide or for generating a surface plasmon in a metal layer, as a result of the binding of one or more analytes or one of the binding partners thereof to one or more immobilized recognition elements, are measured.

82. A method according to claim 81, wherein the biological or biochemical or synthetic recognition elements are immobilized in discrete measurement areas.

83. A method according to claim 81, wherein the in-coupling of excitation light into waveguiding layer (a) or the generation of a surface plasmon in the metal layer is carried out using one or more grating structures (c), which are featured in layer (a) or the metal layer, respectively.

84. A method according to claim 81, wherein the detection of one or more analytes is carried out on the basis of changes in the effective refractive index, as a result of the binding of said analyte and, where applicable, of one of its binding partners, to biological or biochemical or synthetic recognition elements, which are immobilized on a grating structure featured in layer (a) or ton e metal layer, and on the basis of the resulting changes in the resonance conditions for in-coupling of excitation light into layer (a) or for generating a surface plasmon in the metal layer using said grating structure.

85. A method according to claim 81, wherein the detection of one or more analytes is carried out on the basis of changes in the conditions for out-coupling of light guided in layer (a) via a grating structure (c) or (c′

) featured in layer (a), as a result of the binding of said analyte and, where applicable, of one of its binding partners to biological or biochemical or synthetic recognition elements, which are immobilized on the grating structure, and on the basis of the associated changes in the effective refractive index.

86. A method for the qualitative and/or quantitative detection of one or more analytes in one or more samples, wherein said samples are brought into contact with biological or biochemical or synthetic recognition elements, which are immobilized directly or indirectly via an adhesion-promoting layer on the surface of a planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 36, wherein excitation light from one or more light sources is in-coupled into layer (a) and guided therein, and wherein the luminescence of molecules, which are capable of luminescence and are bound to the analyte or one of its binding partners, is excited and measured in the near-field of layer (a).

87. A method according to claim 81, wherein the second essentially optically transparent layer (b) comprises a material from the group formed by cyclo-olefin polymers and cyclo-olefin copolymers.

88. A method according to claim 86, wherein (1) the isotropically emitted luminescence or (2) luminescence in-coupled into the optically transparent layer (a) and out-coupled via grating structure (c) or (c′

) or luminescences of both (1) and (2) are measured simultaneously.

89. A method according to claim 86, wherein, for the generation of luminescence, a luminescence dye or luminescent nanoparticle is used as a luminescence label, which can be excited and emits at a wavelength between 300 nm and 1100 nm.

90. A method according to claim 89, wherein the luminescence label is bound to the analyte or, in a competitive assay, to an analog of the analyte or, in a multistep assay, to one of the binding partners of the immobilized biological or biochemical or synthetic recognition elements or to the biological or biochemical or synthetic recognition elements.

91. A method according to claim 89, wherein a second luminescence label or further luminescence labels are used with excitation wavelengths either the same as or different from that of the first luminescence label and the same or different emission wavelength.

92. A method according to claim 86, wherein changes in the effective refractive index on the measurement areas are determined in addition to the determination of one or more luminescences.

93. A method according to claim 86, wherein the one or more luminescences and/or determinations of light signals at the excitation wavelength are carried out using a polarization-selective procedure.

94. A method according to claim 86, wherein the one or more luminescences are measured at a polarization different from that of the excitation light.

95. A method according to claim 81 for simultaneous or sequential, quantitative or qualitative determination of one or more analytes from the group of antibodies or antigens, receptors or ligands, chelators or “

histidine tag components”

, oligonucleotides, DNA or RNA strands, DNA or RNA analogs, enzymes, enzyme cofactors or inhibitors, lectins and carbohydrates.

96. A method according to claim 81, wherein the samples to be tested are naturally occurring body fluids such as blood, serum, plasma, lymph or urine or tissue fluids or egg yolk or an optically turbid fluid or surface water, a soil or plant extract, a biological or synthetic process broth or prepared from biological tissue parts or cells.

97. Use of a planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 34 for quantitative and or qualitative analyses to determine chemical, biochemical or biological analytes in screening methods in pharmaceutical research, combinatorial chemistry, clinical and pre-clinical development, for real-time binding studies and to determine kinetic parameters in affinity screening and in research, for qualitative and quantitative analyte determinations, especially for DNA and RNA analytics, for the generation of toxicity studies and the determination of gene or protein expression profiles, and for the determination of antibodies, antigens, pathogens or bacteria in pharmaceutical product research and development, human and veterinary diagnostics, agrochemical product research and development, for symptomatic and pre-symptomatic plant diagnostics, for patient stratification in pharmaceutical product development and for therapeutic drug selection, for the determination of pathogens, nocuous agents and germs, especially of salmonella, prions, viruses and bacteria, in food and environmental analytics.

98. A planar optical film waveguide according to claim 37, wherein the refractive index of the first optically transparent layer (a) is greater than 1.8.

99. A planar optical film waveguide according to claim 37, wherein the first optically transparent layer (a) comprises TiO₂, ZnO, Nb₂O₅, Ta₂O₅, HfO₂, or ZrO₂, especially preferably TiO₂ and Ta₂O₅.

100. A planar optical film waveguide according to claim 37, wherein the waveguiding layer (a) is in optical contact with at least one optical coupling element for in-coupling of excitation light of one or more wavelengths, from one or more light sources, into layer (a).

101. A planar optical film waveguide according to claim 37, wherein light guided in the optically transparent layer (a) is out-coupled using grating structures (c′

), which are featured in the optically transparent layer (a).

102. A planar optical film waveguide according to claim 37, wherein a further optically transparent layer (b′

) with a lower refractive index than that of layer (a) and with a thickness of 5 nm-10000 nm, preferably 10 nm-1000 nm, is provided between the optically transparent layers (a) and (b) and is in contact with layer (a).

121. A planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 37, wherein recesses are formed in layer (b) to create sample compartments.

122. A planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 37, comprising mechanically and/or optically identifiable markings to facilitate adjustment in an optical system and/or to facilitate the connection of said planar optical structure to a further body for creating one or more sample compartments.

131. A method according to claim 86, wherein the second essentially optically transparent layer (b) comprises a material from the group formed by cyclo-olefin polymers and cyclo-olefin copolymers.

132. A method according to claim 86, wherein (1) the isotropically emitted luminescence or (2) luminescence in-coupled into the optically transparent layer (a) and out-coupled via grating structure (c) or (c′

) or luminescences of both (1) and (2) are measured simultaneously.

133. A method according to claim 86, wherein, for the generation of luminescence, a luminescence dye or luminescent nanoparticle is used as a luminescence label, which can be excited and emits at a wavelength between 300 nm and 1100 nm.

134. A method according to claim 86, wherein changes in the effective refractive index on the measurement areas are determined in addition to the determination of one or more luminescences.

135. A method according to claim 86, wherein the one or more luminescences and/or determinations of light signals at the excitation wavelength are carried out using a polarization-selective procedure.

136. A method according to claim 86, wherein the one or more luminescences are measured at a polarization different from that of the excitation light.

137. A method according to claim 86 for simultaneous or sequential, quantitative or qualitative determination of one or more analytes from the group of antibodies or antigens, receptors or ligands, chelators or “

histidine tag components”

, oligonucleotides, DNA or RNA strands, DNA or RNA analogs, enzymes, enzyme cofactors or inhibitors, lectins and carbohydrates.

138. A method according to claim 86, wherein the samples to be tested are naturally occurring body fluids such as blood, serum, plasma, lymph or urine or tissue fluids or egg yolk or an optically turbid fluid or surface water, a soil or plant extract, a biological or synthetic process broth or prepared from biological tissue parts or cells.

139. A method for the qualitative and/or quantitative detection of one or more analytes in one or more samples, wherein said samples are brought into contact with biological or biochemical or synthetic recognition elements, which are immobilized directly or indirectly via an adhesion-promoting layer on the surface of a planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 37, wherein excitation light from one or more light sources is in-coupled into layer (a) and guided therein, and wherein the luminescence of molecules, which are capable of luminescence and are bound to the analyte or one of its binding partners, is excited and measured in the near-field of layer (a).

140. A method according to claim 139, wherein the second essentially optically transparent layer (b) comprises a material from the group formed by cyclo-olefin polymers and cyclo-olefin copolymers.

141. A method according to claim 139, wherein (1) the isotropically emitted luminescence or (2) luminescence in-coupled into the optically transparent layer (a) and out-coupled via grating structure (c) or (c′

) or luminescences of both (1) and (2) are measured simultaneously.

142. A method according to claim 139, wherein, for the generation of luminescence, a luminescence dye or luminescent nanoparticle is used as a luminescence label, which can be excited and emits at a wavelength between 300 nm and 1100 nm.

143. A method according to claim 139, wherein changes in the effective refractive index on the measurement areas are determined in addition to the determination of one or more luminescences.

144. A method according to claim 139, wherein the one or more luminescences and/or determinations of light signals at the excitation wavelength are carried out using a polarization-selective procedure.

145. A method according to claim 139, wherein the one or more luminescences are measured at a polarization different from that of the excitation light.

146. A method according to claim 139 for simultaneous or sequential, quantitative or qualitative determination of one or more analytes from the group of antibodies or antigens, receptors or ligands, chelators or “

histidine tag components”

, oligonucleotides, DNA or RNA strands, DNA or RNA analogs, enzymes, enzyme cofactors or inhibitors, lectins and carbohydrates.

147. A method according to claim 139, wherein the samples to be tested are naturally occurring body fluids such as blood, serum, plasma, lymph or urine or tissue fluids or egg yolk or an optically turbid fluid or surface water, a soil or plant extract, a biological or synthetic process broth or prepared from biological tissue parts or cells.

158. Use of a method according to claim 81 for quantitative and or qualitative analyses to determine chemical, biochemical or biological analytes in screening methods in pharmaceutical research, combinatorial chemistry, clinical and pre-clinical development, for real-time binding studies and to determine kinetic parameters in affinity screening and in research, for qualitative and quantitative analyte determinations, especially for DNA and RNA analytics, for the generation of toxicity studies and the determination of gene or protein expression profiles, and for the determination of antibodies, antigens, pathogens or bacteria in pharmaceutical product research and development, human and veterinary diagnostics, agrochemical product research and development, for symptomatic and pre-symptomatic plant diagnostics, for patient stratification in pharmaceutical product development and for therapeutic drug selection, for the determination of pathogens, nocuous agents and germs, especially of salmonella, prions, viruses and bacteria, in food and environmental analytics.

48. A planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform, wherein said evanescent-field measuring platform comprises a multilayer system, with a metal layer and/or an essentially optically transparent, waveguiding layer (a) with refractive index n₁ and at least a second, essentially optically transparent layer (b) with refractive index n₂, where n₁>

n₂, and where the second layer (b) consists of a thermoplastic plastic and a material from the group formed by cyclo-olefin polymers and cyclo-olefin copolymers.

49. A planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 48, wherein said evanescent-field measuring platform is a planar optical structure for generating a surface plasmon resonance.

50. A planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 48, wherein said evanescent-field measuring platform is a planar optical film waveguide, comprising a first essentially optically transparent waveguiding layer (a) with refractive index n₁ and a second essentially optically transparent layer (b) with refractive index n₂, where n₁>

n₂, and where the second layer (b) of said film waveguide comprises a material from the group formed by cyclo-olefin polymers and cyclo-olefin copolymers.

103. A planar optical film waveguide according to claim 50, wherein the refractive index of the first optically transparent layer (a) is greater than 1.8.

104. A planar optical film waveguide according to claim 50, wherein the first optically transparent layer (a) comprises TiO₂, ZnO, Nb₂O₅, Ta₂O₅, HfO₂, or ZrO₂, especially preferably TiO₂ and Ta₂O₅.

105. A planar optical film waveguide according to claim 50, wherein the waveguiding layer (a) is in optical contact with at least one optical coupling element for in-coupling of excitation light of one or more wavelengths, from one or more light sources, into layer (a).

106. A planar optical film waveguide according to claim 50, wherein light guided in the optically transparent layer (a) is out-coupled using grating structures (c′

), which are featured in the optically transparent layer (a).

107. A planar optical film waveguide according to claim 50, wherein a further optically transparent layer (b′

) with a lower refractive index than that of layer (a) and with a thickness of 5 nm-10000 nm, preferably 10 nm-1000 nm, is provided between the optically transparent layers (a) and (b) and is in contact with layer (a).

108. A planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 48, wherein large-area grating structures (c) and/or (c′

) are featured over extensive surface areas of said optical structure, preferably over the entire surface area thereof.

109. A planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 48, comprising multiple grating structures (c) and/or (c′

) on a common, continuous substrate in the essentially optically transparent layer (a) and/or the metal layer.

110. A planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 48, comprising a superposition of 2 or more grating structures of differing periodicity with a parallel or nonparallel arrangement of the grating lines.

111. A planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 48, wherein one or more grating structures (c) and/or (c′

) show a three-dimensionally varying periodicity that is essentially perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the excitation light in-coupled into the optically transparent layer (a) or of the surface plasmon resonance generated in the metal layer.

112. A planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 48, wherein grating structures (c) and, where applicable, additional grating structures (c′

) have a period of 200 nm-1000 nm.

113. A planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 48, wherein the resonance angle for in-coupling and out-coupling of a monochromatic excitation light or for excitation of a surface plasmon within an area of a grating structure of at least 4 mm² (with the sides arranged in parallel or not parallel with the lines of the grating structure (c)) or over a distance of at least 2 mm in parallel with the lines does not vary by more than 0.1°

(as deviation from a mean value).

114. A planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 48, wherein grating structures (c) and/or (c′

) are relief gratings with any profile, for example with a rectangular, triangular or semicircular profile.

115. A planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 48, wherein said grating structures (c) and/or (c′

) are formed as relief gratings in the surface of layer (b) facing layer (a) and/or the metal layer and are transferred in the manufacturing process of said waveguide at least to the surface of layer (a) or the metal layer facing layer (b).

116. A planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 48, wherein biological or biochemical or synthetic recognition elements are deposited on the surface of layer (a) or the metal layer, or on an adhesion-promoting layer additionally deposited on layer (a) or the metal layer, for the qualitative and/or quantitative detection of one or more analytes in one or more samples brought into contact with said recognition elements.

117. A planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 48, wherein the outer dimensions of its base area match the footprint of standard microtiter plates of about 8 cm×

12 cm (with 96 or 384 or 1536 wells)

118. A planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 48, wherein recesses are formed in layer (b) to create sample compartments.

119. A planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 48, comprising mechanically and/or optically identifiable markings to facilitate adjustment in an optical system and/or to facilitate the connection of said planar optical structure to a further body for creating one or more sample compartments.

120. A planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 48, wherein the outer dimensions of its base area match the footprint of standard microtiter plates of about 8 cm×

12 cm (with 96 or 384 or 1536 wells)

123. A method for the qualitative and/or quantitative detection of one or more analytes in one or more samples, wherein said samples are brought into contact with biological or biochemical or synthetic recognition elements, which are immobilized directly or indirectly via an adhesion-promoting layer on the surface of a planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 48, and changes for in-coupling of incident excitation light in a waveguiding layer (a) of a planar optical film waveguide and/or out-coupling of light emanating from said film waveguide or for generating a surface plasmon in a metal layer, as a result of the binding of one or more analytes or one of the binding partners thereof to one or more immobilized recognition elements, are measured.

124. A method according to claim 123, wherein the biological or biochemical or synthetic recognition elements are immobilized in discrete measurement areas.

125. A method according to claim 123, wherein the in-coupling of excitation light into waveguiding layer (a) or the generation of a surface plasmon in the metal layer is carried out using one or more grating structures (c), which are featured in layer (a) or the metal layer, respectively.

126. A method according to claim 123, wherein the detection of one or more analytes is carried out on the basis of changes in the effective refractive index, as a result of the binding of said analyte and, where applicable, of one of its binding partners, to biological or biochemical or synthetic recognition elements, which are immobilized on a grating structure featured in layer (a) or ton e metal layer, and on the basis of the resulting changes in the resonance conditions for in-coupling of excitation light into layer (a) or for generating a surface plasmon in the metal layer using said grating structure.

127. A method according to claim 123, wherein the detection of one or more analytes is carried out on the basis of changes in the conditions for out-coupling of light guided in layer (a) via a grating structure (c) or (c′

) featured in layer (a), as a result of the binding of said analyte and, where applicable, of one of its binding partners to biological or biochemical or synthetic recognition elements, which are immobilized on the grating structure, and on the basis of the associated changes in the effective refractive index.

128. A method according to claim 123, wherein the second essentially optically transparent layer (b) comprises a material from the group formed by cyclo-olefin polymers and cyclo-olefin copolymers.

129. A method according to claim 123 for simultaneous or sequential, quantitative or qualitative determination of one or more analytes from the group of antibodies or antigens, receptors or ligands, chelators or “

histidine tag components”

, oligonucleotides, DNA or RNA strands, DNA or RNA analogs, enzymes, enzyme cofactors or inhibitors, lectins and carbohydrates.

130. A method according to claim 123, wherein the samples to be tested are naturally occurring body fluids such as blood, serum, plasma, lymph or urine or tissue fluids or egg yolk or an optically turbid fluid or surface water, a soil or plant extract, a biological or synthetic process broth or prepared from biological tissue parts or cells.

148. A method for the qualitative and/or quantitative detection of one or more analytes in one or more samples, wherein said samples are brought into contact with biological or biochemical or synthetic recognition elements, which are immobilized directly or indirectly via an adhesion-promoting layer on the surface of a planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 50, wherein excitation light from one or more light sources is in-coupled into layer (a) and guided therein, and wherein the luminescence of molecules, which are capable of luminescence and are bound to the analyte or one of its binding partners, is excited and measured in the near-field of layer (a).

149. A method according to claim 148, wherein the second essentially optically transparent layer (b) comprises a material from the group formed by cyclo-olefin polymers and cyclo-olefin copolymers.

150. A method according to claim 148, wherein (1) the isotropically emitted luminescence or (2) luminescence in-coupled into the optically transparent layer (a) and out-coupled via grating structure (c) or (c′

) or luminescences of both (1) and (2) are measured simultaneously.

151. A method according to claim 148, wherein, for the generation of luminescence, a luminescence dye or luminescent nanoparticle is used as a luminescence label, which can be excited and emits at a wavelength between 300 nm and 1100 nm.

152. A method according to claim 148, wherein changes in the effective refractive index on the measurement areas are determined in addition to the determination of one or more luminescences.

153. A method according to claim 148, wherein the one or more luminescences and/or determinations of light signals at the excitation wavelength are carried out using a polarization-selective procedure.

154. A method according to claim 148, wherein the one or more luminescences are measured at a polarization different from that of the excitation light.

155. A method according to claim 148 for simultaneous or sequential, quantitative or qualitative determination of one or more analytes from the group of antibodies or antigens, receptors or ligands, chelators or “

histidine tag components”

, oligonucleotides, DNA or RNA strands, DNA or RNA analogs, enzymes, enzyme cofactors or inhibitors, lectins and carbohydrates.

156. A method according to claim 148, wherein the samples to be tested are naturally occurring body fluids such as blood, serum, plasma, lymph or urine or tissue fluids or egg yolk or an optically turbid fluid or surface water, a soil or plant extract, a biological or synthetic process broth or prepared from biological tissue parts or cells.

157. Use of a planar optical structure for generating an evanescent-field measuring platform according to claim 48 for quantitative and or qualitative analyses to determine chemical, biochemical or biological analytes in screening methods in pharmaceutical research, combinatorial chemistry, clinical and pre-clinical development, for real-time binding studies and to determine kinetic parameters in affinity screening and in research, for qualitative and quantitative analyte determinations, especially for DNA and RNA analytics, for the generation of toxicity studies and the determination of gene or protein expression profiles, and for the determination of antibodies, antigens, pathogens or bacteria in pharmaceutical product research and development, human and veterinary diagnostics, agrochemical product research and development, for symptomatic and pre-symptomatic plant diagnostics, for patient stratification in pharmaceutical product development and for therapeutic drug selection, for the determination of pathogens, nocuous agents and germs, especially of salmonella, prions, viruses and bacteria, in food and environmental analytics.

159. Use of a method according to claim 123 for quantitative and or qualitative analyses to determine chemical, biochemical or biological analytes in screening methods in pharmaceutical research, combinatorial chemistry, clinical and pre-clinical development, for real-time binding studies and to determine kinetic parameters in affinity screening and in research, for qualitative and quantitative analyte determinations, especially for DNA and RNA analytics, for the generation of toxicity studies and the determination of gene or protein expression profiles, and for the determination of antibodies, antigens, pathogens or bacteria in pharmaceutical product research and development, human and veterinary diagnostics, agrochemical product research and development, for symptomatic and pre-symptomatic plant diagnostics, for patient stratification in pharmaceutical product development and for therapeutic drug selection, for the determination of pathogens, nocuous agents and germs, especially of salmonella, prions, viruses and bacteria, in food and environmental analytics.