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Photonics integrated circuit

Sensor chips for label-free binding analysis

Every measurement on the inQuiQ happens on the chip. It carries your immobilised target, measures the injected sample, and returns the binding signal in real time. Two hydrogel surfaces are available, both regenerable, both built to limit non-specific binding in complex samples.

01Sample + surface chemistry

Two hydrogel surfaces, matched to the binding questions

Both chips use a polycarboxylate hydrogel over the photonic sensor. The difference is chain length, and it changes what the surface is good at. Pick by the measurement, not by the molecule.
Long hydrogel chains: a deep, loosely stacked matrix holding many bound analytes above the sensor surface.

HC1000M

Long hydrogel chains
Best for:
  • Low molecular weight analytes with small binding signals.

  • Concentration and quantification with standard curves.

  • Panel screening across multiple candidates.

  • Specificity testing with mismatch or off-target controls.

Short hydrogel chains: a shallow, tightly stacked matrix holding fewer bound analytes close to the sensor surface.

HC30M

Short hydrogel chains
Best for:
  • Affinity determination with clean equilibrium responses.

  • Full kinetic characterisation.

  • Concentration series on a single immobilised target.

  • Sensorgram fit quality driving the interaction result.

Many programmes use both. Screen and confirm specificity on the HC1000M, then move the hits onto the HC30M for affinity and kinetics. If you are not sure where your assay sits, an application scientist will go through it with you before you order.

01Sample + surface chemistry

Designed around diverse samples and surface chemistries

The inQuiQ measures binding across molecule classes, from small molecules and nucleic acids to antibodies, membrane proteins, and whole particles, with no lower molecular weight limit. Pick the coupling chemistry that fits your ligand, from EDC/NHS amine coupling to biotin, Strep-tag, Protein A/G, lipid layers, and click chemistry.

Sample compatibility

Diverse molecule types across one platform

  • Small molecules
  • Nucleic acids
  • Antibodies & antigens
  • Proteins / enzymes
  • Lipids & membranes
  • Viruses & particles

Molecular scale

100 Da50 kDa150 kDaparticles

Surface chemistry

Choose the coupling strategy for your ligand

Carboxyl groups

Covalent amine coupling via EDC/NHS

Streptavidin / NeutrAvidin

Capture biotinylated ligands

Streptactin

Capture Strep-tagged proteins

Protein A/G

Immunoglobulin workflows

Lipid layers

Membrane proteins or lipid-interacting molecules

Azide groups

Click-based chemistry

02Chip + flowcell

Flexibly addressable flow channels

  • Four channels with customizable flow paths
  • 4-plex assays with in-flow immobilisation, up to 16-plex with a spotter
  • Antifouling hydrogel surface for clean signals in complex media
  • 5 to 100 µL/min flow, up to 300 µL/min for low-viscosity samples
inQuiQ flow cell: four channels plumbed in series, sixteen sensor spots CH-01 IN 1 OUT 1 1 2 3 4 CH-02 IN 2 OUT 2 5 6 7 8 CH-03 IN 3 OUT 3 9 10 11 12 CH-04 IN 4 OUT 4 13 14 15 16

1–16 · sensor spots  ·  pink · binding event

05inQuiQ specifications

Specifications

Sensors for complex samples

The Antifouling surface keeps background signal low in complex samples.

Regeneration and reuse

Regenerate the surface for repeated injections with the same immobilised ligand.

Consumable economics

One chip covers concentration series and repeats. Spotted chips support up to 16 targets per sample.

Sensor chip

Chip models
HC1000M, HC30M
Surface
Polycarboxylate hydrogel, antifouling
Channels
4
Sensors
164 per channel
Ligand spots per chip
4 in-flowup to 16 with a microarray spotter

Measurement range

Affinity, KD
10 pM to 10 mM
Association rate, kon
101 to 107 M-1s-1
Dissociation rate, koff
1 to 10-6 s-1
Sample refractive index range
Unlimited

Performance

Baseline noise
Typically < 0.1 RU RMSsensitivity chips Typically < 0.03 RU RMSat 1 Hz, high-sensitivity chips
Baseline drift
Typically < 0.3 RU/min
Flow rate range
5 to 100 µL/minup to 300 µL/min for low-viscosity samples

Sample and physical

Sample preparation
Unpurified samples after 0.22 µm filtration
Temperature range
16 to 40 °Cminimum 4 °C below ambient

06Get a quote

Get a quote for inQuiQ sensor chips

Add the chips and quantities you need, and we will come back with a quote. If you are not sure which surface fits your target, an application scientist will go through it with you first.

Tell us what you need

Sensor chips

Questions researchers ask

Both chips carry a polycarboxylate hydrogel over the photonic sensor. The HC1000M uses long chains and suits low molecular weight analytes, quantification, screening, and specificity panels. The HC30M uses short chains and suits affinity determination and full kinetic characterisation. Many programmes screen on one and confirm on the other.

Each chip has four channels with four sensors, 16 in total. Immobilised in flow, 4 different ligands can be immobilised on the chip . With a microarray spotter the sensors are addressed individually, giving up to 16 ligands for one measurement, including controls and reference surfaces.

Yes. The hydrogel surface is regenerable. After each injection the bound analyte is stripped and the surface returns to baseline, so one chip carries a full concentration series and keeps the same immobilised target in place across a measurement series.
Some immobilisation techniques, such as Protein A/G, also allow the ligand to be stripped, enabling different ligands to be immobilised and measured sequentially on the same sensor.

Yes. The antifouling hydrogel is built for serum, plasma, cell culture supernatant, and other complex matrices, where background binding usually limits the measurement. Filter the sample through a 0.22 µm filter and inject it directly. No purification step is needed first.

The chips support affinities (KD) from 10 pM to 10 mM, association rates (kon) from 101 to 107 M-1s-1, and dissociation rates (koff) from 1 to 10-6 s-1. Baseline noise is typically below 0.1 RU RMS, which supports work with weakly binding analytes.