A carbon nanotube-based thin-film resistive sensor is disclosed. The sensor includes carbon nanotube film functionalized with sensing moieties and is configured for use in rapid screening for pathogens in point of care settings.

A substance determining apparatus determines a substance within a fluid where particles, which have attached the substance, are bound to a binding surface. A sensing unit is configured to generate a sensing signal being indicative of at least one of i) a distance between the particles bound on the binding surface and the binding surface, and ii) an in-plane position of the particles bound on the binding surface. A binding discrimination unit is configured to discriminate between different kinds of binding of the particles bound on the binding surface depending on the generated sensing signal. The binding discrimination unit may be a unit for determining the part of the sensing signal being caused by specifically bound particles and for determining the substance based on this determined part of the sensing signal.

Provided herein are devices and methods suitable for sequencing, amplifying, analyzing, and performing sample preparation procedures for nucleic acids and other biomolecules.

A biosensor device controls actuation of label particles e.g., using frustrated total internal reflection. By applying a predetermined actuation force on the label particles and determining the effect of the applied actuation force in a binding volume or surface of a sensor cartridge of the biosensor device, a feedback control of the actuation force is applied.

A method of sensing molecules using a detection device, the detection device comprising a plurality of magnetoresistive (MR) sensors and at least one fluidic channel, comprising adding a plurality of molecules to be detected to the at least one fluidic channel, wherein at least some of the plurality of molecules to be detected are coupled to respective magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), detecting a characteristic of a magnetic noise of a first MR sensor of the plurality of MR sensors, wherein the characteristic of the magnetic noise is influenced by a presence of one or more MNPs in a vicinity of the first MR sensor, and determining, based on the detected characteristic, whether the first MR sensor detected the presence of one or more MNPs in the vicinity of the first MR sensor.

The present invention provides for engineered molecular opsonins that may be used to bind biological pathogens or identify subclasses or specific pathogen species for use in devices and systems for treatment and diagnosis of patients with infectious diseases, blood-borne infections or sepsis. An aspect of the invention provides for mannose-binding lectin (MBL), which is an abundant natural serum protein that is part of the innate immune system. The ability of this protein lectin to bind to surface molecules on virtually all classes of biopathogens (viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoans) make engineered forms of MBL extremely useful in diagnosing and treating infectious diseases and sepsis.

A cartridge assembly, and method of using the same, is provided. The assembly includes a sample processing card and a substrate attached thereto. The card has an injection port for receiving a test sample; at least one metering chamber; a mixing material source for introducing mixing material(s) to the metering chamber; fluid communication channels fluidly connecting the injection port and the mixing material source to the metering chamber; and at least one output port for delivering the test sample to a sensor (e.g., GMR sensor). The substrate has associated therewith: the sensor for sensing analytes in the test sample; electrical contact portions for an electrical connection with a reader unit; and a memory chip. The assembly further includes a pneumatic interface with port(s) and corresponding communication channel(s) fluidly connected to card. The interface connects with an off-board pneumatic system and enables application of positive and negative pressurized fluid to the card to move the test sample and one or more mixing materials therein and to the sensor.

A method, system, and apparatus for the rapid detection of analyte(s) of interest are disclosed which can provide high sensitivity quantification of the analyte concentration in a lateral follow assay. The method includes labeling detection molecules with magnetic particles and immobilizing the magnetic particles on a nitrocellulose membrane upon specific biochemical recognition and binding. An external magnetic field is applied to the magnetic particles to induce magnetic induction, and a magnetoresistance sensor is positioned close to the membrane and magnetic particles. A periodic signal in the sensor is produced when a mechanical oscillatory movement is provided to the membrane relative to the sensor (or vice versa). Triggered time averaging of signals in synchronization with the oscillatory motion enables noise reduction of less than 30 dB and significant improvement of assay sensitivity. An x-y motion program for scanning the test line and control line on the membrane can produce magnetic 2D mapping of the lines, further differentiating the bound particles at the lines from unbound particles in the background, rendering a more accurate assay.

An electromagnetic sensing device comprising: a reference microfluidic reservoir to receive a reference substance with magnetic nanoparticles; an analyte microfluidic reservoir to receive an analyte and magnetic nanoparticles; a first excitation magnetic coil to subject the reference microfluidic reservoir to an alternating magnetic field at a first frequency; a second excitation magnetic coil to subject the analyte microfluidic reservoir to an alternating magnetic field at the first frequency; a third excitation magnetic coil to subject the reference microfluidic reservoir to an alternating magnetic field at a second frequency distinct from the first frequency; a fourth excitation magnetic coil to subject the analyte microfluidic reservoir to an alternating magnetic field at the second frequency; a first detection magnetic coil to detect a response magnetic field of the magnetic nanoparticles in the reference microfluidic reservoir; a second detection magnetic coil to detect a response magnetic field of the magnetic nanoparticles.

Disclosed herein are devices, systems, and methods for monitoring single-molecule biological processes using magnetic sensors and magnetic particles (MNP). A MNP is attached to a biopolymer (e.g., a nucleic acid, protein, etc.), and motion of the MNP is detected and/or monitored using a magnetic sensor. Because the MNP is small (e.g., its size is comparable to the size of the molecule being monitored) and is tethered to a biopolymer, changes in the volume of Brownian motion of the MNP in a solution can be monitored to monitor the movement of the MNP and, by inference, the tethered biopolymer. The magnetic sensor is small (e.g., nanoscale or having a size on the order of the sizes of the MNP and the biopolymer) and can be used to detect even small changes in the position of the MNP within the sensing region of the magnetic sensor.