An apparatus for evaluating gas barrier properties, a support having a polymer for supporting a sample, a chamber on a permeation side, and a detection unit, the support being joined to the opening of the chamber on a permeation side; in which a polymer film is provided between the support and a sample; a chamber on a supply side is provided, being disposed so as to be closably attachable to the sample and able to go up and down; and an external chamber covers a region interposed between the polymer film and the support; and a method of evaluating gas barrier properties using the same.

Provided are a moisture detection method and a moisture detection system which are capable of detecting moisture in a simple manner. A moisture detection method in accordance with the present invention uses a moisture detection system which contains: (A) a substance that reacts with water to produce hydrogen peroxide; and (B) a fluorescent substance that is indirectly excited by hydrogen peroxide to emit light. The moisture detection system may further contain (C) a substance that reacts with hydrogen peroxide to produce a reaction product which excites the fluorescent substance (B) to emit light.

An apparatus for evaluating gas barrier properties, a support having a polymer for supporting a sample, a chamber on a permeation side, and a detection unit, the support being joined to the opening of the chamber on a permeation side; in which a polymer film is provided between the support and a sample; a chamber on a supply side is provided, being disposed so as to be closely attachable to the sample and able to go up and down; and an external chamber covers a region interposed between the polymer film and the support; and a method of evaluating gas barrier properties using the same.

Provided herein are methods of determining whether an extracellular vesicle (EV) can cross an endothelial barrier (e.g., the blood brain barrier). In some embodiments, the EV originates from a cancer cell. In some embodiments, the cancer has a higher likelihood of metastasizing (to the brain) if the EV originating from a cancer cell is determined to be able to cross an endothelial barrier (e.g., the blood brain barrier). Thus, further provided herein are methods of determining whether a subject who has cancer is likely to develop metastatic cancer. In some embodiments, the subject is treated for the metastatic cancer accordingly.

Disclosed is a system for measuring mass transfer in a membrane and solutions. The system includes: a membrane module 10 including a feed solution reservoir 11 accommodating a feed solution f, a draw solution reservoir 13 accommodating a draw solution d whose osmotic concentration is higher than that of the feed solution f, and a holder 15 supporting a semipermeable membrane m arranged between the feed solution reservoir 11 and the draw solution reservoir 13 and whose performance is to be measured; a feed solution storage tank 20 storing the feed solution f; and a feed solution supply pump 30 supplying the feed solution f from the feed solution storage tank 20 to the feed solution reservoir 11 at a fixed flow rate corresponding to a water flux WF across the membrane m such that the water flux WF is maintained constant.

Methods for the detection of the permeation of chemical compounds across a membrane are provided herein.

A leak detection device and method for use in testing a wall with selective gas/liquid permeability. The wall is sealed inside a containment including an injection chamber and a test chamber. The injection chamber is in communication with an injection and pressurization source and the test chamber is in communication with a vacuum production device. A vaporized liquid detector is in communication with the test chamber operable to detect and/or measure a parameter related to a quantity of liquid vapor or a variation in the quantity of liquid vapor which is indicative of a leak condition through the wall.

In various embodiments, a method for determining at least one pore-related parameter of a porous structure is provided. The method includes supplying a volatile liquid into a chamber. The method also includes coating a first surface of the porous structure with an evaporation preventing substance. The method further includes placing the coated porous structure within the chamber. The method additionally includes determining an effective mass of the chamber over a period of time. The method also includes determining the at least one pore-related parameter of an uncoated second surface of the coated porous structure based on the effective mass determined. The second surface of the porous structure is opposite the first surface of the porous structure.

A multiple layer composite material having fluid breach detection features provides indication of a failure in a fluid barrier. The indication of breach of fluid is provided before failure of a final layer of the composite material. The multiple layer composite material includes more than one fluid impermeable layer with an intermediate layer sealed between the fluid impermeable layers. Failure of one of the fluid impermeable layers is detected by fluid contact in the intermediate layer. The intermediate layer includes a reagent and/or detection device to indicate that the fluid has reached the intermediate layer.

The present invention provides a method for measuring gas permeability of a polymer membrane, for example, by evaluating polymer-structure dependence on gas permeability in a polymer membrane.