A test cartridge includes a membrane separating an internal space of the cartridge into a sample chamber and a second chamber. A first electrode is disposed within the sample chamber, and a second electrode is disposed within the second chamber. A device includes a dock and circuitry. The dock includes a first dock-terminal and a second dock-terminal, and is configured to receive the cartridge such that the circuitry is electrically connected to the electrodes via contact between terminals of the dock and terminals of the cartridge. The circuitry performs, while the cartridge remains docked with the dock: (a) a verification step that verifies an absence of nanopores in the membrane, (b) subsequently, a nanoporation subroutine, and (c) subsequently, an assay subroutine. The circuitry enables the nanoporation subroutine only if the verification step successfully verifies the absence of nanopores. Other embodiments are also described.

A method is disclosed for fabricating free-standing polymeric nanopillars or nanotubes with remarkably high aspect ratios. The nanopillars and nanotubes may be used, for example, in integrated microfluidic systems for rapid, automated, high-capacity analysis or separation of complex protein mixtures or their enzyme digest products. One embodiment, preferably fabricated entirely from polymer substrates, comprises a cell lysis unit; a solid-phase extraction unit with free-standing, polymeric nanostructures; a multi-dimensional electrophoretic separation unit with high peak capacity; a solid-phase nanoreactor for the proteolytic digestion of isolated proteins; and a chromatographic unit for the separation of peptide fragments from the digestion of proteins. The nanopillars and nanotubes may also be used to increase surface area for reaction with a solid phase, for example, with immobilized enzymes or other catalysts within a microchannel, or as a solid support for capillary electrochromatography-based separations of proteins or peptides.

A system and process for determining and analyzing surface property parameters of a substance based on kinetic method is provided. The system comprises a sample processing system and a detection system. The sample processing system includes a reactor (3), a collector for liquid to be tested (5), and a container for liquid to be tested (6). The detection system includes a detecting electrode (13), a concentration and activity operator, a kinetic data processor, a surface property operation module, and a result output module. The process comprises: having the substance to be tested to be treated with an electrolyte solution, measuring activity of liquid to be tested upon reaction at a pre-set time interval, and processing with the kinetic data processor and the surface property operation module, so as to obtain surface property parameters of the substance to be tested. The present invention adopts kinetic method of ion exchange to overcome the issues associated with long reaction equilibrium time, not easy to determine equilibrium and not easy to accurately determine the value of m. Five parameters of the substance surface property can be calculated with only intercept and gradient of the linear regression equation obtained from the kinetic data, and the total amount of surface charge can also be directly determined.

A system and process for determining and analyzing surface property parameters of a substance based on kinetic method is provided. The system comprises a sample processing system and a detection system. The sample processing system includes a reactor (3), a collector for liquid to be tested (5), and a container for liquid to be tested (6). The detection system includes a detecting electrode (13), a concentration and activity operator, a kinetic data processor, a surface property operation module, and a result output module. The process comprises: having the substance to be tested to be treated with an electrolyte solution, measuring activity of liquid to be tested upon reaction at a pre-set time interval, and processing with the kinetic data processor and the surface property operation module, so as to obtain surface property parameters of the substance to be tested. The present invention adopts kinetic method of ion exchange to overcome the issues associated with long reaction equilibrium time, not easy to determine equilibrium and not easy to accurately determine the value of m. Five parameters of the substance surface property can be calculated with only intercept and gradient of the linear regression equation obtained from the kinetic data, and the total amount of surface charge can also be directly determined.

Disclosed are biomolecule based bioprobes that exhibit improved water solubility and mono layer-forming properties with substantially little or no aggregation that can appreciably interfere with binding of the bioprobes to a target nucleotide. The bioprobes may be used in conjunction with a suitable reporter system to detect very small quantities of biological markers. The bio-probes comprise a nucleobase sequence capable of hybridizing to a target nucleotide; and at least one charged functional group attached to said nucleobase sequence. Also disclosed are biosensors, and sensing devices that comprise the bin-probe. Further disclosed are suitable electrochemical reporter systems for use with the bioprobes. Methods of use of these devices and probes, including for the detection of target biomarkers, including biomarkers for cancer cells or pathogens, are also included.

Disclosed are biomolecule based bioprobes that exhibit improved water solubility and mono layer-forming properties with substantially little or no aggregation that can appreciably interfere with binding of the bioprobes to a target nucleotide. The bioprobes may be used in conjunction with a suitable reporter system to detect very small quantities of biological markers. The bio-probes comprise a nucleobase sequence capable of hybridizing to a target nucleotide; and at least one charged functional group attached to said nucleobase sequence. Also disclosed are biosensors, and sensing devices that comprise the bin-probe. Further disclosed are suitable electrochemical reporter systems for use with the bioprobes. Methods of use of these devices and probes, including for the detection of target biomarkers, including biomarkers for cancer cells or pathogens, are also included.

A method for testing an electrochemical response of a sample, which is at least partially disposed within an electrolyte, includes macro scanning the sample. Macro scanning is applied across the entire sample and includes applying a first range of macro potential between the electrolyte and the sample, and measuring a first range of macro current between the electrolyte and the sample, while subject to the first range of macro potential. The macro scan is held at a first fixed macro potential within the first range of macro potential and the sample is micro scanned while held at the first fixed macro potential. Micro scanning is applied at individual points across a surface portion of the sample and includes measuring a plurality of first micro currents at each of the individual points of the surface portion of the sample. Each individual point is significantly smaller than the entire sample.

A method for testing an electrochemical response of a sample, which is at least partially disposed within an electrolyte, includes macro scanning the sample. Macro scanning is applied across the entire sample and includes applying a first range of macro potential between the electrolyte and the sample, and measuring a first range of macro current between the electrolyte and the sample, while subject to the first range of macro potential. The macro scan is held at a first fixed macro potential within the first range of macro potential and the sample is micro scanned while held at the first fixed macro potential. Micro scanning is applied at individual points across a surface portion of the sample and includes measuring a plurality of first micro currents at each of the individual points of the surface portion of the sample. Each individual point is significantly smaller than the entire sample.

The use of ion sensitive field effect transistor (ISFET) to detect methylated nucleotides in a DNA sample is described. A method of detecting methylated nucleotides in a DNA sample may include the steps of treating a sample of DNA with a reagent which discriminates between methylated and non-methylated nucleotides to provide treated DNA, amplifying the treated DNA and optionally sequencing the amplified DNA. An ISFET is used to monitor the addition of one or more dNTPs in the strand extension reactions during the amplification and/or sequencing step. Suitable apparatus is also provided.

The invention is to devices and method for rapid determination of analytes in liquid samples by various assays including immunoassays incorporating a sample dilution feature for forming a diluted sample for analysis. The devices and methods also include a dilution verification feature for verifying the degree of dilution of the diluted sample. The devices preferably are capable of being used in the point-of-care diagnostic field is provided.