A repeatable method for detecting circulating tumor cells in vitro is provided. The method involves combining a test sample from a patient suspected of having circulating tumor cells, and a non-lytic adenoviral system, and culture media for the cells. The adenoviral system utilizes (i) a first replication-defective adenoviral particle in which an expression cassette is packaged, said expression cassette comprising an adenoviral 5 and 3 ITRs and a tumor-specific promoter; and (ii) a coding sequence for a reporter protein which is expressed in the presence of circulating tumor cells, and an adenoviral 3 ITR. The test sample and the non-lytic adenoviral system are incubated for a sufficient time to permit expression of the reporter protein, and measuring reporter protein expression in the test samples, whereby presence of reporter expression indicates the presence of circulating tumor cells in the sample. Because the system is non-lytic, the testing can be repeated on the cells which remain viable in culture. Also provided is a method for enriching test samples having circulating tumor cells and a microfluidics device suitable for CTC-specification identification and enumeration.

A repeatable method for detecting circulating tumor cells in vitro is provided. The method involves combining a test sample from a patient suspected of having circulating tumor cells, and a non-lytic adenoviral system, and culture media for the cells. The adenoviral system utilizes (i) a first replication-defective adenoviral particle in which an expression cassette is packaged, said expression cassette comprising an adenoviral 5 and 3 ITRs and a tumor-specific promoter; and (ii) a coding sequence for a reporter protein which is expressed in the presence of circulating tumor cells, and an adenoviral 3 ITR. The test sample and the non-lytic adenoviral system are incubated for a sufficient time to permit expression of the reporter protein, and measuring reporter protein expression in the test samples, whereby presence of reporter expression indicates the presence of circulating tumor cells in the sample. Because the system is non-lytic, the testing can be repeated on the cells which remain viable in culture. Also provided is a method for enriching test samples having circulating tumor cells and a microfluidics device suitable for CTC-specification identification and enumeration.

A chromatography column (2) containing a bed of packed particles (22, 24, 26, 28, 30), wherein the packed particles comprise fused core particles and the particle diameters of the packed particles vary along the column. Preferably, the particles (2, 24, 26, 28, 30) are arranged according to their average particle diameter, in order of increasing average particle diameter from the inlet end (4) to the outlet end (6). The bed may comprise a plurality of bed sections and each bed section has an average particle diameter calculated from the particles in that section and there are at least two different average particle diameter bed sections, wherein the particles of each bed are separated from particles of an adjacent bed by a partition that is liquid permeable to allow through a flow of mobile phase. A high column efficiency can be provided with lower pressure drop per unit length of the column.

The present invention comprises a novel multimodal chromatography sequence of short length alternating adsorption and size exclusion media operating with gradient elution. The novel multimodal chromatography in an oscillating series utilizes the alternating solvent exchange media to reposition the active region of separation back in phase with the target solutes.

Each solvent exchange column bed length in the sequence is designed to achieve a subtle decrease or increase in the solvent gradient (or salt gradient) concentration associated with the two solutes of interest which results in an extension of the active separation or increasing differences in solute velocity for two solutes of interest.

The novel oscillatory chronographic system demonstrates much improved separation capability as shown by a one dimensional model.

The present invention relates to a flow-through device comprising at least one separation column wherein a first packing component, which comprises particles of alumina and/or silica, and a second packing component, which comprises a powder of one or more hygroscopic salts are provided. The two packing components may be blended or layered in the device, which may comprise a single tube or a plurality of tubes arranged in a plate format, such as the wells of a multiwall plate or tubes in a rack. In addition, the invention relates to a method for removing one or more matrix components, such as pigments, from a biological sample, by passing said sample across a first packing component, which comprises particles of alumina and/or silica, and a second packing component, which comprises a powder of one or more hygroscopic salts.

A lattice and distribution network for a stackable chromatography cassette comprising: a peripheral seal; at least one screen forming the lattice surrounded by the peripheral seal, each at least one screen comprising a plurality of struts in a latticed arrangement; a first internal distribution network fluidly coupled to the lattice and surrounded by the peripheral seal; a second internal distribution network disposed opposite the first internal distribution network, fluidly coupled to the lattice and surrounded by the peripheral seal; wherein a direction of fluid flow is established from the first internal distribution network through the lattice to the second internal distribution network; and wherein preferential streamlines are minimized.

A reticulated annular capillary GC column is disclosed including a capillary wall, a core disposed within the capillary wall, an annulus disposed between the capillary wall and the core, and vanes disposed in the annulus. The vanes extend along the length of the capillary wall for less than the length of the capillary wall. The vanes define a reticulated flow path through the annulus. The vanes structurally support the core within the capillary wall. A method for forming the reticulated annular capillary GC column is disclosed including forming a preform master pattern by an additive manufacturing technique, the preform master pattern including a preform wall, a preform core, a preform annulus disposed between the preform wall and the preform core, and struts disposed in the preform annulus. A preform is cast from the preform master pattern, and the preform is drawn down, forming the reticulated annular capillary GC column.

A device for extraction of analytes with aromatic cycles, preferably analytes with aromatic cycles for which the octanol-water partition coefficient is more than 10.sup.3, the analytes being contained in a liquid phase, the extraction device including a support and an adsorption layer at least partially covering the support, the adsorption layer being porous SiOxCyHz.

A device for extraction of analytes with aromatic cycles, preferably analytes with aromatic cycles for which the octanol-water partition coefficient is more than 10.sup.3, the analytes being contained in a liquid phase, the extraction device including a support and an adsorption layer at least partially covering the support, the adsorption layer being porous SiOxCyHz.

A chemical pre-concentrator includes a conduit defining a flow path between two ends and having a heating element disposed within the conduit, such that the heating element has at least one sorbent material deposited directly on at least a portion of a conductive surface of the heating element. Some such heating elements are in the form of electrically conductive strips defining both a plurality of apertures through the strip and a series of undulations spaced along the flow path.