A method for enriching a heterogeneous population of cells includes loading one or more sample chambers containing DEP electrodes therein with a solution containing the heterogeneous population of cells, wherein the heterogeneous population of cells comprises a first subpopulation of cells having a first crossover frequency and a second subpopulation of cells having a second, higher crossover frequency. An AC electrical field is applied to the DEP electrodes, wherein the AC electrical field has an applied frequency that is between the crossover frequency of the first subpopulation of cells and the second subpopulation of cells, wherein the first subpopulation of cells are substantially killed by the applied electrical field and the second subpopulation of cells are substantially not killed by the applied electrical field.

Provided is a method of treating radioactive liquid waste which reduces the amount of radioactive waste to be generated and is capable of removing a radioactive nuclide from radioactive liquid waste to the extent that the concentration thereof is less than or equal to the measurement lower limit using a simple apparatus configuration. A filtration device is connected to a colloid removal device by a connection pipe. An adsorption tower positioned at the highest stream of an adsorption device is connected to the colloid removal device by a connection pipe. The colloid removal device includes an electrostatic filter. Respective adsorption towers in the adsorption device are sequentially connected by a pipe. A discharge pipe is connected to the adsorption tower positioned at the lowest stream of the adsorption device. Radioactive liquid waste, containing particles having a particle diameter of 1 μm or greater, negatively charged colloids, and a radioactive nuclide, is supplied to the filtration device. The particles having a particle diameter of 1 μm or greater are removed by the filtration device and the negatively charged colloids are removed by the electrostatic filter that is positively charged. The radioactive nuclide is removed by the adsorption tower.

Provided is a method of treating radioactive liquid waste which reduces the amount of radioactive waste to be generated and is capable of removing a radioactive nuclide from radioactive liquid waste to the extent that the concentration thereof is less than or equal to the measurement lower limit using a simple apparatus configuration. A filtration device is connected to a colloid removal device by a connection pipe. An adsorption tower positioned at the highest stream of an adsorption device is connected to the colloid removal device by a connection pipe. The colloid removal device includes an electrostatic filter. Respective adsorption towers in the adsorption device are sequentially connected by a pipe. A discharge pipe is connected to the adsorption tower positioned at the lowest stream of the adsorption device. Radioactive liquid waste, containing particles having a particle diameter of 1 μm or greater, negatively charged colloids, and a radioactive nuclide, is supplied to the filtration device. The particles having a particle diameter of 1 μm or greater are removed by the filtration device and the negatively charged colloids are removed by the electrostatic filter that is positively charged. The radioactive nuclide is removed by the adsorption tower.

Provided herein are systems and method for measuring cell stiffness. In particular, provided herein are microelectrode configuration and systems for measuring platelet deformation and stiffness.

A method for performing contactless ODEP for separation of CTCs is provided with the steps of obtaining patients' blood with rare cell suspected CTCs; adding at least one fluorescent antibody binding to CTCs into the blood; staining the blood; injecting the stained blood with fluorescent dye into an ODEP device and then performing fluorescent image identification; trapping the CTCs with at least one fluorescent antibody in the ODEP device by creating an image pattern and then generating an ODEP force; Separating the trapped CTCs from other non-CTCs cells; absorbing the trapped CTCs; and obtaining a high purity of CTCs. An apparatus for performing contactless ODEP for separation of CTCs is also provided.

Apparatuses and methods for selectively transmitting objects of interest from a first reservoir to a second reservoir are disclosed. The apparatuses include electromagnetic focusing apparatuses configured to interact with objects of interest to induce a change in a property of the objects of interest so as to increase or decrease the probability that the objects of interest pass through a throat diffusively coupling the first reservoir and the second reservoir.

Methods and apparatus for detecting, quantifying, enriching, and/or separating bacterial species in fluid sample are provided. The fluid sample is provided as input to a microfluidic passage of a microfluidic device, wherein the microfluidic device comprises at least one electrode disposed adjacent to the microfluidic passage. The at least one electrode is activated to capture bacteria in the sample using dielectrophoresis, wherein the capture efficiency of bacteria is at least 99%.

A apparatus for performing contactless ODEP for separation of CTCs comprises an ODEP device including a first conductive glass and a second conductive glass, the first conductive glass includes a transverse main channel and a longitudinal micro channel perpendicular to the main channel and joining the main channel at a cell separation zone; the first conductive glass includes a first hole and a second hole aligned with two ends of the main channel respectively, and a third hole aligned with one end of the micro channel that is distal to the cell separation zone; a sample receiving member disposed on and aligned with the first hole; an exhaust discharge member disposed on and aligned with the second hole; a target collection member disposed on and aligned with the third hole; and a controller including an optical projection device and an image fetch device.

A particle manipulation device includes a substrate and a microchannel included in the substrate and configured to receive a fluid including particles therein. A biasing structure is formed on the substrate adjacent to, but outside the microchannel. The biasing structure is configured to dispense radiation at a frequency to bias movement of the particles within the microchannel from outside the microchannel.

Methods and systems for purifying one or more microbial cells and/or viruses from a biological sample are provided. The biological sample is added to a well disposed in a medium. A potential is applied across the medium to cause the contaminants to enter one or more walls of the well, and retain the microbial cells and/or viruses in the well. The microbial cells and/or viruses can be removed from the well, and optionally adhered or fixed to a surface, or detected. In one embodiment, the microbial cells and/or viruses are retained in the well by embedding in the medium. The medium including the embedded microbial cells and/or viruses may be excised or otherwise removed and transferred to a glass slide or other solid surface. In some examples, a biological sample containing contaminants and one or more microbial cells is introduced to a well disposed in a porous filter medium, wherein the porous filter medium includes pores smaller than the one or more microbial cells, thereby preventing the one or more microbial cells from entering the porous filter medium.