The invention provides a novel method of coating the inside of a capillary with a polymeric material. The method can include introducing a catalyst-free solution of a monomer and initiator, wherein the monomer is present in about 1-10% (w/v) and the initiator is present in 0.1-1% (w/v), into a capillary and thermally initiating polymerization of the monomer thereby providing a capillary comprising an internal polymeric coating for separating, identifying, and quantifying components of an analyte.

Various implementations of electrophoretic systems and instruments are provided to improve electrophoresis and ease of use. Various electrophoretic systems and instruments utilize different electrode designs that can result in uniform electromigration of analytes. The electrophoretic systems and instrumentations optimize the size and/or location of electrodes relative to a sample, thereby increasing uniformity of electric field and reducing or minimizing drift of analyte migration. In addition, the electrophoresis systems and instruments provide a solution to conveniently check for electrical connections in the systems and instruments, and alert users of potential improper electrical connections, prior to performing electrophoresis.

A mechanism is provided for presenting single strands of a double strand molecule to a membrane. The double strand molecule is driven to a first side of the membrane by an electric field. The membrane has a first and second nanopore spaced apart by a nanopore separation distance. The first strand of the double strand molecule is captured in the first nanopore when driven to the first side of the membrane. The second strand is captured in the second nanopore by having the nanopore separation distance between the first nanopore and the second nanopore corresponding to a strand separation distance between the first and second strands, and/or by having captured the first strand to limit diffusion of the second strand. The first and second strands respectively in the first and second nanopores are individually stretched, by the first and second strands recombining on the second side of the membrane.

A biosensor system includes an array of biosensors with a plurality of electrodes situated proximate the biosensor. A controller is configured to selectively energize the plurality of electrodes to generate a DEP force to selectively position a test sample relative to the array of biosensors.

A capillary electrophoresis method for identification and analyzing collagen quantitatively, which is used to identify and quantify collagen in a sample, comprises the steps of: (a) dissolving a collagen-containing sample to form a sample solution; (b) preparing a capillary with an inner wall thereof having a positively-charged layer; (c) introducing the sample solution into the capillary filled with an analytical buffer solution; and (d) driving the sample solution to pass through the capillary. The method of the present invention does not need the purifying pre-treatment and cracking the collagen-containing sample but directly performs the capillary electrophoresis analysis of collagen. Therefore, the present invention can shorten the time for analyzing collagen quantitatively.

An EWOD (or AM-EWOD) device includes a reference electrode and a plurality of array elements, each array element including an array element electrode, and control electronics. In a first mode optimized for EWOD actuation, the control electronics is configured to control a supply of time varying voltages to the array element electrodes and the reference electrode, thereby generating an actuation voltage as a potential difference between voltages at the array element electrodes and the reference electrode. The reference electrode includes a first electrical connection and a second electrical connection. In a second mode, the control electronics further is configured to supply an electrical current flow between the first electrical connection and the second electrical connection to generate resistance heat for controlling temperature of the EWOD device. Control may include sensing a temperature of the EWOD device, and switching between operating in the first or second mode based on the sensed temperature.

An analysis chip for capillary electrophoresis includes a capillary tube, and a filter that is provided upstream of the capillary tube. The chip can also include an introducing tank connected to one end of the capillary tube, and a discharging tank connected to another end of the capillary tube.

An example micro-fluidic device includes a micro-fluidic channel having an inner surface and a plurality of pillars positioned along the inner surface. The device further includes a plurality of power supplies connected to the pillars. Another example micro-fluidic device includes a micro-fluidic channel having an inner surface and a plurality of pillars positioned along the inner surface. The device further includes a power supply. The pillars are grouped into at least two groups of pillars, each group of pillars including at least two pillars, and all pillars of at least one group of pillars are connected to the power supply. In another example, a sensing system for detecting bioparticles includes a micro-fluidic device, wherein a surface of each pillar comprises functionalized plasmonic nanoparticles or functionalized SERS nanoparticles, a radiation source for radiating the micro-fluidic device, and a detector for detecting SERS signals or surface plasmon resonance.

An electrophoresis running tank assembly uses two opposed rows of LEDs to illuminate DNA-containing gel on a transparent tray positioned between the rows. A respective cylindrical lens is positioned horizontally between each row and a respective edge of the tray. The optical axis of the illumination light is midway between a bottom surface of the gel tray and a top surface of the gel.

The present disclosure relates to fluidic systems and devices for processing, extracting, or purifying one or more analytes. These systems and devices can be used for processing samples and extracting nucleic acids, for example by isotachophoresis. In particular, the systems and related methods can allow for extraction of nucleic acids, including non-crosslinked nucleic acids, from samples such as tissue or cells. The systems and devices can also be used for multiplex parallel sample processing.