The three-dimensional structural analysis of pharmaceutical and/or biological molecules is performed by the reaction of OH radicals on the surfaces of the molecules of interest. Quantitation and/or completeness of the OH radicals are optionally measured using buffers intrinsic to the sample solutions as internal standards. Measurements of the reactions of these buffers with OH radicals provide an internal standard while avoiding the use of prior art internal standards that can have unwanted effects on the three-dimensional structures of interest.

The three-dimensional structural analysis of pharmaceutical and/or biological molecules is performed by the reaction of OH radicals on the surfaces of the molecules of interest. Quantitation and/or completeness of the OH radicals are optionally measured using buffers intrinsic to the sample solutions as internal standards. Measurements of the reactions of these buffers with OH radicals provide an internal standard while avoiding the use of prior art internal standards that can have unwanted effects on the three-dimensional structures of interest.

A dialysis system is provided that includes a dialysis machine and a potassium sensing device that is configured to measure the concentration of potassium in the patient's blood, in spent dialysate resulting from treating the patient, or in both. The potassium sensing device can be configured to generate a sensed value of the concentration of potassium. A control and computing unit, including a processor and a memory, is configured to receive the sensed value, compare the value with one or more values stored in the memory, and generate a control signal based on the comparison. A potassium infusion circuit uses the control signal to infuse supplemental potassium solution into the treatment dialysate, a replacement fluid, or both. The memory can include stored patient-historical and population data.

Flash Photo-Oxidation Device and Higher Order Structural Analysis is employed for higher order structural analysis of biomolecules. Biomolecular higher order structure (HOS) results from the confounded superimposition of a biomolecule's secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structure and defines the manner in which a biomolecule presents itself and interacts with other biomolecules in living systems. A rapidly growing class of therapeutic drugs, known as biotherapeutics, comprises a variety of proteins, whose therapeutic properties are inherently linked and dependent upon their HOS. As such, HOS analysis of biotherapeutics is an important analytical requirement in the biopharmaceutical industry. The present invention provides new means and methods for the determination of biopharmaceutical HOS and associated conformation using improved devices and methodologies for flash photo-oxidation of proteins to determine their higher order biomolecular structure, and such is responsive to the increased demand for new and improved HOS analytical means in the biopharmaceutical industry.

A flow cell is provided that includes surface-attached structures in a chamber. The structures are movable in response to a magnetic or electric field. A target extraction or isolation system includes the flow cell and a driver configured for applying a magnetic or electric field to the interior of the flow cell to actuate movement of the structures. The flow cell may be utilized to extract or isolate a target from a sample flowing through the flow cell. Further, a microfluidic system is provided that includes surface-attached structures and a microarray, wherein actuated motion of the surface-attached structures is used to enhance flow, circulation, and/or mixing action for analyte capture on the microarray.

Flash Photo-Oxidation Device and Higher Order Structural Analysis is employed for higher order structural analysis of biomolecules. Biomolecular higher order structure (HOS) results from the confounded superimposition of a biomolecule's secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structure and defines the manner in which a biomolecule presents itself and interacts with other biomolecules in living systems. A rapidly growing class of therapeutic drugs, known as biotherapeutics, comprises a variety of proteins, whose therapeutic properties are inherently linked and dependent upon their HOS. As such, HOS analysis of biotherapeutics is an important analytical requirement in the biopharmaceutical industry. The present invention provides new means and methods for the determination of biopharmaceutical HOS and associated conformation using improved devices and methodologies for flash photo-oxidation of proteins to determine their higher order biomolecular structure, and such is responsive to the increased demand for new and improved HOS analytical means in the biopharmaceutical industry.

A measurement method for visualizing the flow of a fluid that includes: a preparation process where a photochromic compound, whose amount of absorption of light changes upon irradiation with transformation-inducing light, is dissolved in the fluid; a transformation-inducing irradiation process where the fluid is irradiated with transformation-inducing light that causes photochromism; and a post-transformation imaging process where an image of the fluid is taken after irradiation by the transformation-inducing light. During the post-transformation imaging process, a first image is generated by taking an image of the fluid by using first light in the first wavelength range in which the amount of absorption of light changes upon irradiation with transformation-inducing light.

Flash Photo-Oxidation Device and Higher Order Structural Analysis is employed for higher order structural analysis of biomolecules. Biomolecular higher order structure (HOS) results from the confounded superimposition of a biomolecule's secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structure and defines the manner in which a biomolecule presents itself and interacts with other biomolecules in living systems. A rapidly growing class of therapeutic drugs, known as biotherapeutics, comprises a variety of proteins, whose therapeutic properties are inherently linked and dependent upon their HOS. As such, HOS analysis of biotherapeutics is an important analytical requirement in the biopharmaceutical industry. The present invention provides new means and methods for the determination of biopharmaceutical HOS and associated conformation using improved devices and methodologies for flash photo-oxidation of proteins to determine their higher order biomolecular structure, and such is responsive to the increased demand for new and improved HOS analytical means in the biopharmaceutical industry.

A dialysis system is provided that includes a dialysis machine and a potassium sensing device that is configured to measure the concentration of potassium in the patient's blood, in spent dialysate resulting from treating the patient, or in both. The potassium sensing device can be configured to generate a sensed value of the concentration of potassium. A control and computing unit, including a processor and a memory, is configured to receive the sensed value, compare the value with one or more values stored in the memory, and generate a control signal based on the comparison. A potassium infusion circuit uses the control signal to infuse supplemental potassium solution into the treatment dialysate, a replacement fluid, or both. The memory can include stored patient-historical and population data.

A method of dialysis is provided that includes sensing the concentration of potassium in a patient's blood serum, in used dialysate resulting from treating the patient, or in both. The method involves generating a sensed value of the concentration of potassium, comparing the sensed value with one or more values stored in a memory, and generating a control signal based on the comparison. Supplemental potassium solution is infused into the treatment dialysate, based on the control signal. The comparison can be made to patient-historical data, population data, or both.