The invention in particular embodiments provides an evanescent wave sensor which includes a ligand bound to a sensor substrate via a NCYX linker moiety, as defined herein. Methods of making the subject evanescent wave sensors are also provided which include contacting a first reactive moiety which has an isocyanato (or isothiocyanato) moiety with a second reactive moiety which has an hydroxyl, thiol, or amino moiety, as further described herein. Also provided by the invention are methods in which a subject evanescent wave sensor is contacted with a sample, and binding of analytes in the sample to the sensor is assessed by evanescent wave detection. The invention also provides kits and systems for performing the subject methods.