Among other things, the present disclosure is related to devices and methods of performing biological and chemical assays, such as but not limited to immunoassays and nucleic assay acid, particularly a homogeneous assay that does not use a wash step and that is fast (e.g., 60 seconds from dropping a sample to displaying results). The present disclosure is related to both competitive and non-competitive homogeneous assays.

To provide a microstructure equipped with a mechanism for selectively detecting marker molecules expressed or secreted by individual cells forming a cell population, a method for fabricating such a microstructure, and specific solutions for detecting and identifying molecules to be detected using such a microstructure, the present invention provides a method for fabricating a hemispherical shell-shaped microstructure made of a thin film of a desired thickness and diameter, in which a material surface capable of fixing a probe for detecting a biomolecule is arranged on the inner surface, and a method for detecting a target biomolecule using such a thin film.

An autonomous bioaerosol sampling and detection system and method adapted to provide real-time detection and identification of bio-organisms in aerosols without human intervention.

Bead-based analytical assays suitable for detecting changes in the abundance of target analytes in biological samples are disclosed. In an embodiment, an assay involves incubating a sample with one or several beads that are capable of binding several distinct analytes in an amount sufficient for detection by mass spectrometry from a single bead.

The present invention generally relates to droplet libraries and to systems and methods for the formation of libraries of droplets. The present invention also relates to methods utilizing these droplet libraries in various biological, chemical, or diagnostic assays.

Biological activity in holding pens in a micro-fluidic device can be assayed by placing in the holding pens capture objects that bind a particular material of interest produced by the biological activity. The biological material of interest that binds to each capture object can then be assessed, either in the micro-fluidic device or after exporting the capture object from the micro-fluidic device. The assessment can be utilized to characterize the biological activity in each holding pen. The biological activity can be production of the biological material of interest. Thus, the biological activity can correspond to or arise from one or more biological cells. Biological cells within a holding pen can be clonal cell colonies. The biological activity of each clonal cell colony can be assayed while maintaining the clonal status of each colony.

Provided are methods for determining the presence or absence of donor specific antibodies in a biological sample. The methods include mixing a cellular sample from a donor with a biological sample from a recipient under conditions sufficient for recipient immune antibodies, if present, to bind to donor cell surface antigen (Ag) to form an immune antibody-Ag complex, contacting the mixture with beads comprising an antibody that specifically binds the immune antibody-Ag complex (e.g., the Ag or immune antibody) on a surface thereof, adding under lysis conditions a detectably-labeled antibody that specifically binds the immune antibody-Ag complex bound to the beads, and detecting the presence or absence of the detectably-labeled antibody bound to the immune antibody-Ag complex to determine the presence or absence of donor specific antibodies in the biological sample from the recipient. Systems and kits for practicing the subject methods are also provided.

Methods and devices for the characterization of biological specimens by the use of electroluminescent materials. When placed in close proximity or direct contact to a biological specimen and an electrical signal is transmitted, electroluminescence is generated in response to the presence of the specimen. The electroluminescence produced can be in the form of an image of the specimen. The image is captured by an optical device that collects light and displays or otherwise processes the image according to the particular need or purpose. In general, the method requires preparing an electroluminescent assembly including the biological specimen, a dielectric layer, and a substrate, put together in any order. The method uses an electrical signal transmitted to the assembly. The device may be configured in a closed-circuit electrical configuration or it may be in a configuration where the EL assembly is at open circuit with respect to the power source.

A method includes attaching two or more beads to each unit of one or more units of a chemical component in a sample, to form, for each unit of the chemical component, a multi-bead complex including two or more beads and the unit of the chemical component; placing the sample on a surface of an image sensor; at the image sensor, receiving light originating at a light source, the received light including light reflected by, refracted by, or transmitted through the beads of the multi-bead complexes; at the image sensor, capturing one or more images of the sample from the received light; and identifying, in at least one of the images of the sample, separate multi-bead complexes, the identifying of the separate multi-bead complexes including associating the two or more beads of each of the multi-bead complexes based on proximity to one another.

Among other things, the present disclosure is related to devices and methods of performing biological and chemical assays, such as but not limited to immunoassays and nucleic assay acid, particularly a homogeneous assay that does not use a wash step and that is fast (e.g., 60 seconds from dropping a sample to displaying results). The present disclosure is related to both competitive and non-competitive homogeneous assays.