In one general aspect, an electrophoretic measurement method is disclosed that includes providing a vessel that holds a dispersant, providing a first electrode immersed in the dispersant, and providing a second electrode immersed in the dispersant. A sample is placed at a location within the dispersant between the first and second electrodes with the sample being separated from the electrodes, an alternating electric field is applied across the electrodes, and the sample is illuminated with temporally coherent light. A frequency shift is detected in light from the step of illuminating that has interacted with the sample during the step of applying an alternating electric field, and a property of the sample is derived based on results of the step of detecting.

To form a layer separating two volumes of aqueous solution, there is used an apparatus comprising elements defining a chamber, the elements including a body of non-conductive material having formed therein at least one recess opening into the chamber, the recess containing an electrode. A pre-treatment coating of a hydrophobic fluid is applied to the body across the recess. Aqueous solution, having amphiphilic molecules added thereto, is flowed across the body to cover the recess so that aqueous solution is introduced into the recess from the chamber and a layer of the amphiphilic molecules forms across the recess separating a volume of aqueous solution introduced into the recess from the remaining volume of aqueous solution.

To form a layer separating two volumes of aqueous solution, there is used an apparatus comprising elements defining a chamber, the elements including a body of non-conductive material having formed therein at least one recess opening into the chamber, the recess containing an electrode. A pre-treatment coating of a hydrophobic fluid is applied to the body across the recess. Aqueous solution, having amphiphilic molecules added thereto, is flowed across the body to cover the recess so that aqueous solution is introduced into the recess from the chamber and a layer of the amphiphilic molecules forms across the recess separating a volume of aqueous solution introduced into the recess from the remaining volume of aqueous solution.

The present disclosure relates to the manufacture and use of redox electrodes and their use in cell lysis. In certain embodiments, the redox electrodes are manufactured using a hybrid material approach, such as using a redox polymer in combination with a support substrate, such as cellulose fibers or paper. In certain implementations, the redox electrodes are suitable for use at voltages greater than 25 Volts.

The present disclosure relates to the manufacture and use of redox electrodes and their use in cell lysis. In certain embodiments, the redox electrodes are manufactured using a hybrid material approach, such as using a redox polymer in combination with a support substrate, such as cellulose fibers or paper. In certain implementations, the redox electrodes are suitable for use at voltages greater than 25 Volts.

The present application is directed, at least in part, to a process for forming droplet interface blayers (DIBs). In one or more embodiments, a housing is produced wherein the housing includes at least one aperture that comprises a cis portion and a trans portion, at least one cis electrode receptacle and at least one trans electrode receptacle, wherein the cis electrode receptacle is operatively connected to the cis portion, and the trans electrode receptacle is operatively connected to the trans portion. In at least one embodiment, the number of cis and trans electrode receptacles equals the number of apertures. Electrodes are treated with a buffer and then inserted into each of the cis and trans electrode receptacles.

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.

An assembly for nucleic acid sequencing by tunnel current analysis has at least two electrically conductive particles having a diameter from 1 nm to 100 nm and at least two electrically insulating particles having a diameter from 1 nm to 100 nm. The particles are in particular spherically shaped. The assembly also has at least two first electrodes for contacting the electrically conductive particles and a substrate on which the first electrodes and the particles are arranged. The four particles are arranged substantially in a planar square. The conductive particles lie diagonally opposite each other, and the insulating particles lie diagonally opposite each other. The gap between the four particles is used as a solid-state nanopore for nucleic acid sequencing.

An assembly for nucleic acid sequencing by tunnel current analysis has at least two electrically conductive particles having a diameter from 1 nm to 100 nm and at least two electrically insulating particles having a diameter from 1 nm to 100 nm. The particles are in particular spherically shaped. The assembly also has at least two first electrodes for contacting the electrically conductive particles and a substrate on which the first electrodes and the particles are arranged. The four particles are arranged substantially in a planar square. The conductive particles lie diagonally opposite each other, and the insulating particles lie diagonally opposite each other. The gap between the four particles is used as a solid-state nanopore for nucleic acid sequencing.

The invention features the use of graphene, a one atom thick planar sheet of bonded carbon atoms, in the formation of artificial lipid membranes. The invention also features the use of these membranes to detect the properties of polymers (e.g., the sequence of a nucleic acid) and identify transmembrane protein-interacting compounds.