Devices and methods for characterization of analyte mixtures are provided. Some methods described herein include performing enrichment steps on a device before expelling enriched analyte fractions from the device for subsequent analysis. Also included are devices for performing these enrichment steps.

A method of mass spectrometry or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed in which analyte ions of a desired charge state are isolated. The method comprises: separating analytes according to their electrophoretic mobility; ionising the analytes; and mass filtering the resulting analyte ions, wherein the mass to charge ratios of the ions transmitted by a mass filter are varied as a function of the electrophoretic mobility and according to a predetermined relationship such that substantially only ions having said desired charge state are transmitted by the mass filter.

The present invention provides a method for the quantification of virus particles in a biological sample, comprising the steps of: (a) introducing said biological sample comprising virus particles into a capillary tube containing a buffer solution; (b) applying an electrical field to said capillary tube of sufficient voltage to allow for the separation of the virus particles from additional constituents in said sample, to obtain electrophoretical fractions; (c) generating an electropherogram associated with the electrophoretical fractions; and (d) determining the concentration of virus particles in said sample by comparing the electropherogram with an electropherogram generated from a reference sample containing a known concentration of said virus particles.

Devices, systems, and methods for applying a dielectrophoretic force on a particle include: a cell defining at least one channel for confining the particle; and a first electrode and a second electrode electrically isolated from the first electrode, at least one of the first and second electrodes being formed from a two-dimensional (2D) material providing an atomically sharp edge. The first and second electrodes are arranged sufficiently close to one another and sufficiently close to the channel such that application of a sufficient voltage across the first and second electrodes generates an electric field in at least part of the channel, the electric field having an electric field gradient sufficient to apply the dielectrophoretic force on the particle in the channel.

Disclosed are methods and devices for detection of ion migration and binding, utilizing a nanopipette adapted for use in an electrochemical sensing circuit. The nanopipette may be functionalized on its interior bore with metal chelators for binding and sensing metal ions or other specific binding molecules such as boronic acid for binding and sensing glucose. Such a functionalized nanopipette is comprised in an electrical sensor that detects when the nanopipette selectively and reversibly binds ions or small molecules. Also disclosed is a nanoreactor, comprising a nanopipette, for controlling precipitation in aqueous solutions by voltage-directed ion migration, wherein ions may be directed out of the interior bore by a repulsing charge in the bore.

A cartridge for use in an electrowetting sample processing system, the cartridge having at least one inlet port for introducing an input liquid in an internal gap of the cartridge, wherein the gap has at least one hydrophobic surface and is configured to provide an electrowetting induced movement of a microfluidic droplet of input liquid, wherein the input liquid has a carrier liquid and a processing liquid and the gap has a capture zone that is configured to capture at least a part of the processing liquid as a microfluidic droplet by use of electrowetting force and the gap further has a transfer zone that is configured to provide a passage for the carrier liquid next to the microfluidic droplet, while processing liquid is captured in the capture zone.

Devices and methods for performing dielectrophoresis are described. The devices contain sample channel which is separated by physical barriers from electrode channels which receive electrodes. The devices and methods may be used for the separation and analysis of particles in solution, including the separation and isolation of cells of a specific type. As the electrodes do not make contact with the sample, electrode fouling is avoided and sample integrity is better maintained.

Example nanopore sequencers include a cis well, a trans well, and a nanopore fluidically connecting the cis and trans wells. In one example sequencer, a modified electrolyte (including an electrolyte and a cation complexing agent) is present in the cis well, or the trans well, or in the cis and the trans wells. In another example sequencer, a gel state polyelectrolyte is present in the cis well, or the trans well, or in the cis and the trans wells.

Systems and methods are provided for trapping and electrically monitoring molecules in a nanopore sensor. The nanopore sensor comprises a support structure with a first and a second fluidic chamber, at least one nanopore fluidically connected to the two chambers, and a protein shuttle. The protein shuttle comprises an electrically charged protein molecule, such as Avidin. The nanopore can be a Clytosolin A. A method can comprise applying a voltage across the nanopores to draw protein shuttles towards the nanopores. The ionic current through each or all of the nanopores can be concurrently measured. Based on the measured ionic current, blockage events can be detected. Each blockage event indicates a capture of a protein shuttle by at least one nanopore. Each blockage event can be detected through a change of the total ionic current flow or a change in the ionic current flow for a particular nanopore.

A permeative amine/acid introduction device (PAID) is placed after a conventional KOH eluent suppressed conductometric anion chromatography (SCAC) system. The PAID converts the suppressed eluites from the acid form to the corresponding salt. For example, when the analytes are acids, they are converted to the corresponding ammonium salt (NR.sub.2H+HX.fwdarw.NR.sub.2H.sub.2.sup.++X.sup.−) and allows very weak acids HX (pK.sub.a≥7.0) that cannot normally be detected by SCAC to be measured by a second conductivity detector following the PAID. Permeative reagent introduction is dilutionless, can be operated without pumps and provides good mixing with low band dispersion (as small as 30 μL). An exemplary amine is diethylamine (DEA), which was chosen as the amine source due to its low pK.sub.b value (pK.sub.b 3.0), high vapor pressure, and low toxicity and low odor.