The inQuiQ, real-time binding affinity and kinetics

Q: How does the inQuiQ compare with SPR, BLI, and ITC?

The inQuiQ's NES technology and SPR work on the same principle: binding at a sensor surface changes the refractive index inside an evanescent field. NES puts that optical path onto a photonic chip, which brings higher sensitivity at a lower instrument cost. BLI dips a sensor tip into the sample, great for crude media, but less sensitive with off-rates. ITC is a different measurement: solution-phase thermodynamics, no immobilisation, no rate constants.

Q: What is nanophotonic evanescent field sensing?

Nanophotonic evanescent field sensing (NES) is the detection method behind the inQuiQ. Light circulates in optical ring resonators on a photonic integrated circuit, and its evanescent field reaches just past the sensor surface. Binding shifts the resonance. Printing the optics onto a chip is what makes 16 stable sensors, a 5 minute warm-up, and lower instrument cost possible with the highest sensitivity.

Q: Which assays can the inQuiQ run?

One method covers most binding questions: affinity (KD) determination, single-cycle and multi-cycle kinetics, steady-state affinity, competitive and inhibition assays, epitope binning and cross-blocking, off-rate ranking, dose-response with IC50 and EC50, ternary complex and cooperativity assays, active concentration and titer, anti-drug antibody kinetics in matrix, and thermodynamic studies across a temperature series.

Q: What are the options when my SPR system service is no longer supported?

Older SPR systems reach a point where the service contract ends, spare parts get scarce, and the control software no longer fits current IT policy. The data may still be fine, but the risk sits in uptime. The inQuiQ uses a new generation technology that returns the same parameters, KD, kon, and koff, on a supported instrument, on your own bench.

Q: Can the inQuiQ replace ELISA for binding work?

For binding questions, yes. ELISA reports an endpoint after wash and detection steps, so it shows how much bound, not how fast or how tightly. The inQuiQ follows association and dissociation in real time on unmodified molecules and returns KD, kon, and koff from one sample, with no secondary antibody and no enzyme label.

The inQuiQ brings integrated photonics to label-free biosensing. By placing most of the optics on the sensor chip, we ensure signal stability while creating a highly sensitive benchtop instrument with a modular upgrade path for higher throughput.

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Delta Life Science inQuiQ photonic biosensor instrument

4 channels

16 sensors

30 μL

min. sample volume

10 × 2 mL

Sample capacity

0 MW

no lower detection limit

The inQuiQ at a glance

Front view

Model: inQuiQLabel-free biosensor

01Cover the full affinity range

10 pM to 10 mM

02Fits on your bench

30 × 36 × 40 cm, 18 kg

03Give slow binders more time

Injections from 5 μL to 2 mL

04See the small signals

Noise below 0.1 RU RMS

05Run serum and plasma samples

Antifouling hydrogel surface

06Modular upgrade path

inQuiQ768 autosampler

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

Sample flows across the photonic chip, where molecular binding changes the light beneath the sensor surface. The inQuiQ records these changes in real time as a sensorgram, measuring K_D, k_on, and k_off across multiple targets and controls from one small sample.

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
1 to 100 µL/min flow, up to 300 µL/min for low-viscosity samples

1–16 · sensor spots · pink · binding event

03Detection + performance

The chip: where the magic happens

NES photonic detection

Light travels through microscopic optical waveguides on the chip.

Binding events near the sensing surface change the local refractive index.

The refractive index changes are measured as a real-time sensorgram.

Photonic integrated chip

performance

Continuous measurements

Regenerable surface

Signal-to-noise ratio

0.1 RU

Baseline noise Sensitivity Sensors

Typically < 0.1 RU RMS

K_D range

10 pM to 10 mM

Baseline drift

Typically < 0.3 RU/min

Baseline noise High-Sensitivity Sensors*

Typically < 0.01 RU RMS

*Coming soon

04Data + software

Real-time data with intuitive software

Affinity

Steady-state binding and K_D analysis

Kinetics

k_a, k_d, and K_D interpretation from the sensorgram

Quantification

Concentration and biologically active concentration

Specificity

Screening, epitope binning, thermodynamics, yes/no binding

Small molecules

Small molecule interactions

No lower MW limit for organic molecules

Biomarkers

Biomarker detection in complex matrixes

Clean signal in serum, plasma, and lysate

tight binders

Stable tight-binder measurements

Low baseline drift for slow off-rates

05inQuiQ specifications

Specifications

01 detection technology

Nanophotonic Evanescent field Sensing

Learn more about NES technology

02Minimum sample volume

from 30 µL sample
and 5 µL injection volume

03Sample handling

10 × 2 mL tubes
1.5 mL generic tubes compatible

04Channels

4 channels, each containing 4 sensors

05Temperature control

16 °C to 40 °C

06Output

Real-time binding response

Sample handling

Channels: 44 sensors each
Sample capacity: 10 × generic 1.5 or 2 mL tubes
Minimum sample volume: 30 µL50 µL recommended
Injection volume range: 30 µL to 2 mL
Flow rate range: 1 to 100 µL/minup to 300 µL/min for low-viscosity samples

Sensing

Sensor chip: HC1000M, HC30M
Data collection rate: 1 Hzsensitivity chips 1, 10, 100 Hzhigh-sensitivity chips
Baseline noise: Typically < 0.1 RU RMSsensitivity chips Typically < 0.01 RU RMSat 1 Hz, high-sensitivity chips*
*Coming soon
Baseline drift: < 0.3 RU/mintypically

Measurement range

Association rate, k_a: 10¹ to 10⁷ M^-1s^-1
Dissociation rate, k_d: 1 to 10^-6 s^-1
Affinity, K_D: 10 pM to 10 mM
Sample refractive index range: Unlimited

Buffers and physical

Running buffer capacity: 2 × 50 mL
Regeneration buffer capacity: 1 × 50 mL
Temperature control: 16 to 40 °Cmax 4 °C below ambient
Dimensions, W × H × D: 30 × 36 × 40 cm
Net weight: 18 kg

06Plan a demo

See how the inQuiQ fits your workflow

Tell us your panel, your formats, and the binding questions you need answered. We will show you the inQuiQ on an assay close to yours.

Ready to see the inQuiQ in action?

Prefer a quote?

If you know what you need, we'll send you a configured price within 48 hours.

Download the inQuiQ brochure

Sensitivity, channel layout, footprint, and consumable formats in a couple of pages.

Delta Life Science
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Send us an email, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Questions researchers ask

The inQuiQ's NES technology and SPR work on the same principle: binding at a sensor surface changes the refractive index inside an evanescent field. NES puts that optical path onto a photonic chip, which brings higher sensitivity at a lower instrument cost. BLI dips a sensor tip into the sample, great for crude media, but less sensitive with off-rates. ITC is a different measurement: solution-phase thermodynamics, no immobilisation, no rate constants.

Nanophotonic evanescent field sensing (NES) is the detection method behind the inQuiQ. Light circulates in optical ring resonators on a photonic integrated circuit, and its evanescent field reaches just past the sensor surface. Binding shifts the resonance. Printing the optics onto a chip is what makes 16 stable sensors and lower instrument cost possible with the highest sensitivity.

One method covers most binding questions: affinity (K_D) determination, single-cycle and multi-cycle kinetics, steady-state affinity, competitive and inhibition assays, epitope binning and cross-blocking, off-rate ranking, dose-response with IC50 and EC50, ternary complex and cooperativity assays, active concentration and titer, anti-drug antibody kinetics in matrix, and thermodynamic studies across a temperature series.

Older SPR systems reach a point where the service contract ends, spare parts get scarce, and the control software no longer fits current IT policy. The data may still be fine, but the risk sits in uptime. The inQuiQ uses a new generation technology that returns the same parameters, K_D, k_on, and k_off, on a supported instrument, on your own bench.

For binding questions, yes. ELISA reports an endpoint after wash and detection steps, so it shows how much bound, not how fast or how tightly. The inQuiQ follows association and dissociation in real time on unmodified molecules and returns K_D, k_on, and k_off from one sample, with no secondary antibody and no enzyme label.