Embodiments provide a chemical sensor device that is a chemical sensor using a nucleic acid compound and a specific blocking agent and can detect a target substance with high sensitivity, and a method for detecting a target substance.

A chemical sensor device of an embodiment includes a sensitive film, a nucleic add compound that is immobilized on the sensitive film, and a phosphoric acid derivative that is immobilized on a surface of the sensitive film on which the nucleic add compound is immobilized.

A manually actuated chromatography device comprising a chamber for receiving a liquid sample, a pump with a metering valve, and a chromatography element, wherein the pump moves a predetermined volume of liquid from the sample chamber to the chromatography element.

A sensing device for detecting a characteristic of an analyte in a sample solution and method of making the same is provided. The device includes one or more sensors configured to measure a characteristic of an analyte in a sample. The device further includes a sample solution that contains the analyte and one or more interfering solutes, wherein the interfering solute reduces a performance characteristic of the one or more sensors. The device further includes a sensor solution in fluidic communication with the one or more sensors. The device further includes a hydrophobic barrier that separates the sample solution from the one or more sensors, wherein the hydrophobic barrier is permeable to the analyte and impermeable to the interfering solute, and wherein the hydrophobic barrier is in fluidic communication with the sample solution and the sensor solution.

A device and method for isolating extracellular vesicles from biofluids is disclosed. A nanoporous silicon nitride membrane is provided with a tangential flow of biofluid. A pressure gradient through the nanoporous silicon nitride membrane facilitates capture of extracellular vesicles from the tangential flow vector of biofluid. Reversal of the pressure gradient results in the release of the extracellular vesicles for subsequent collection.

A testing system and test cartridge for analyzing a sample of water from a water source for specific analyte levels. The test cartridge including a membrane filter that captures a target analyte while allowing a labelled conjugate to permeate through the membrane. The conjugate includes an analyte-specific labelled binding reagent to bind with the target analyte for optical detection. The direct membrane interrogation (i.e., on-filter detection), determines analyte levels without elution of the analyte from a filter thereby improving analyte recovering and assay sensitivity.

A microfilter having a hydrophilic surface and suited for size-based capture and analysis of cells, such as circulating cancer cells, from whole blood and other human fluids is disclosed. The filter material is photo-definable, allowing the formation of precision pores by UV lithography. Exemplary embodiments provide a device that combines a microfilter with 3D nanotopography in culture scaffolds that mimic the 3D in vivo environment to better facilitate growth of captured cells.

Methods and devices for rapidly separating pathogen from a test sample, such as a food sample, for efficient detection of pathogen are disclosed. A simultaneous microfiltration and elutriation approach was used to separate pathogen, such as bacterial cells, from a test sample, such a food sample.

Methods for rapidly concentrating a food sample for efficient detection of bacteria are disclosed. A microfiltration approach followed by centrifugation was used to concentrate the cells with an enzyme (e.g., a protease) added at the beginning of the process to facilitate more efficient micro-filtering. The enzyme was found to have no significant effect on cell viability.

In one aspect, a system for controlled temporal extraction of ingredients of a pharmaceutical dosage form is disclosed, which comprises at least one reservoir for storing a fluid comprising a solvent, a cell having at least one inlet port in fluid communication with said reservoir for receiving a flow of the fluid from the reservoir and an outlet port through which fluid can exit the cell, where the cell is configured to receive a pharmaceutical dosage form. The system can further include an in-line heater disposed in proximity of the inlet port of the cell for heating the fluid to an elevated temperature prior to entry thereof into the cell, and a pump for causing fluid circulation between said reservoir and said cell.

A system and method for sorting sperm is provided. The system includes a housing and a microfluidic system supported by the housing. The system also includes an inlet providing access to the microfluidic system to deliver sperm to the microfluidic system and an outlet providing access to the microfluidic system to harvest sorted sperm from the microfluidic system. The microfluidic system provides a flow path for sperm from the inlet to the outlet and includes at least one channel extending from the inlet to the outlet to allow sperm delivered to the microfluidic system through the inlet to progress along the flow path toward the outlet. The microfluidic system also includes a filter including a first plurality of micropores arranged in the flow path between the inlet and the outlet to cause sperm traveling along the flow path to move against through the filter and gravity to reach the outlet.