A method for separating and enriching sperm from a tissue sample comprises: obtaining a microfluidic separating system having an inlet end and an outlet end, and a membrane filter (e.g., hollow fiber membrane filter) fluidly connected to the outlet end; separating the tissue sample via the microfluidic separating system into a debris fluid volume and a sperm fluid volume; and enriching the sperm fluid volume by removing excess media via the membrane filter. A two-stage tissue sample separation system comprising: a microchannel structure defining a separation fluid channel to form a separation stage; an inlet end of the microchannel structure; an outlet end of the microchannel structure; and a membrane filter fluidly connected to the outlet end for removal of at least a portion of excess media in the tissue sample.

A biological sample purification apparatus is described for purifying a protein from a cell, as well as methods of use of the purification apparatus, and systems comprising the same. The described apparatus comprises a housing comprising a top opening, a bottom opening, and a membrane positioned between said top opening and said bottom opening; and a purification media comprising diatomaceous earth and a resin, wherein the purification media is positioned between the membrane and the top opening; and wherein the purification media is optionally mixed and is substantially dry.

A biological sample purification apparatus is described for purifying a protein from a cell, as well as methods of use of the purification apparatus, and systems comprising the same. The described apparatus comprises a housing comprising a top opening, a bottom opening, and a membrane positioned between said top opening and said bottom opening; and a purification media comprising diatomaceous earth and a resin, wherein the purification media is positioned between the membrane and the top opening; and wherein the purification media is optionally mixed and is substantially dry.

The present invention addresses to an automated gas injection system in vials with rubber septa, for simultaneous injection of gas in 24 or more positions, with injection pressure control and/or overpressure detection, applied to mass spectrometry analyses and/or gas chromatography. The present invention can be used, for example, in isotopic analyses of geological materials in equipment with carbonate extraction units, in the cleaning and decontamination of tubes to be used in isotopic or chromatographic analyses, and in the removal of contaminants from steam drag or by continuous flow, or coming from the free space of vials or tubes in the analyses of organic and inorganic materials.

The application of this invention allows reducing the current times of routine purge (flush) of at very least 3 minutes for every 2 positions (72 positions in total and final time of 108 minutes, in a batch of samples) to a total of 96 positions in 3 minutes, with a reduction of 12 times or more in the flush time, which implies greater analytical capacity to the laboratory, lower external costs of sending samples, less time to obtain results, with technology that is easy to implement in universities and research centers in general, in addition to increasing the lifespan of rubber septa.

Disclosed is a method for preparing a hybrid organic/inorganic composition including inorganic nanoparticles functionalized by at least one molecule chosen from photoluminescent charged organic molecules, the method including bringing into contact, in a single-phase solvent medium, at least one photoluminescent charged organic molecule and non-swelling phyllosilicate nanoparticles having a thickness of 1 nm to 100 nm, and a larger dimension of 10 nm to 10 μm. Also disclosed are hybrid photoluminescent nanoparticles compositions obtained by this method.

Disclosed is a method for preparing a hybrid organic/inorganic composition including inorganic nanoparticles functionalized by at least one molecule chosen from photoluminescent charged organic molecules, the method including bringing into contact, in a single-phase solvent medium, at least one photoluminescent charged organic molecule and non-swelling phyllosilicate nanoparticles having a thickness of 1 nm to 100 nm, and a larger dimension of 10 nm to 10 μm. Also disclosed are hybrid photoluminescent nanoparticles compositions obtained by this method.

A surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detection method is provided for detecting a target analyte in a sample. The SERS detection method generally includes the steps of: (a). preparing an extract of the sample; (b). introducing the sample extract onto a SERS substrate, causing the target analyte to be absorbed in the SERS substrate; (c). introducing a volatile organic solvent onto the SERS substrate to have the target analyte of the sample extract dissolved and comes out of the SERS substrate; (d). irradiating the SERS substrate with light to evaporate the volatile organic solvent, leaving a more condensed target analyte on the SERS substrate; (e). irradiating the condensed target analyte with laser light to have the target analyte penetrate deeply into the SERS substrate; and (f). performing Raman measurement with a laser beam focusing on the SERS substrate to analyze the target analyte.

A surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detection method is provided for detecting a target analyte in a sample. The SERS detection method generally includes the steps of: (a). preparing an extract of the sample; (b). introducing the sample extract onto a SERS substrate, causing the target analyte to be absorbed in the SERS substrate; (c). introducing a volatile organic solvent onto the SERS substrate to have the target analyte of the sample extract dissolved and comes out of the SERS substrate; (d). irradiating the SERS substrate with light to evaporate the volatile organic solvent, leaving a more condensed target analyte on the SERS substrate; (e). irradiating the condensed target analyte with laser light to have the target analyte penetrate deeply into the SERS substrate; and (f). performing Raman measurement with a laser beam focusing on the SERS substrate to analyze the target analyte.

Reagents and methods for obtaining a metabolite solution comprising a mass spectrometry compatible volatile salt or volatile compound.

Reagents and methods for obtaining a metabolite solution comprising a mass spectrometry compatible volatile salt or volatile compound.