Devices, systems, and their methods of use, for generating droplets are provided. One or more geometric parameters of a microfluidic channel can be selected to generate droplets of a desired and predictable droplet size.

Disclosed are novel lanthanide(III) chelates including a pyridine 4-ethynylpyrazine subunit. These chelates have an excitation wavelength which allows excitation with UV LED.

The present invention provides methods of detecting analytes using particles having different physico-chemical properties, such as buoyancy, size, density, spectral characteristics, and/or binding properties, in solution-based sandwich assays and solution-based competition assays. The methods can be performed using rotors and bench-top centrifuges and provide for rapid, qualitative and quantitative detection of analytes. The present invention also provides kits that can be used to perform the methods, and mixtures containing particles suitable for the methods.

Provided herein are methods for inkjet printing objects, including objects which may be used as elements of microfluidic devices. The microfluidic devices incorporating the elements are also provided. Such microfluidic devices include those configured to quantify the expression and activity of exosomal matrix metalloprotease, MMP14. These microfluidic devices may be used in methods of monitoring breast cancer in patients having breast cancer.

Provided herein are methods of assessing or determining the presence or absence of particles, such as bead particles, present in a cell composition. Also provided are articles of manufacture and kits for use in the methods.

The present invention provides methods, compositions, systems, and kits comprising nano-satellite complexes and/or serum albumin carrier complexes, which are used for modulating antigen-specific immune response (e.g., enhancing anti-tumor immunity). In certain embodiments, the nano-satellite complexes comprise: a) a core nanoparticle complex comprising a biocompatible coating surrounding a nanoparticle core; b) at least one satellite particle attached to, or absorbed to, the biocompatible coating; and c) an antigenic component conjugated to, or absorbed to, the at least one satellite particle component. In certain embodiments, the complexes further comprise: d) an type I interferon agonist agent. In some embodiments, the serum albumin complexes comprise: a) at least part of a serum albumin protein, b) an antigenic component conjugated to the carrier protein, and c) a type I interferon agonist agent.

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.

Systems and techniques are described for capturing target extracellular vesicles from a fluid sample. In some implementations, a microfluidic device includes a microfluidic channel where an internal surface of at least one wall of the microfluidic channel includes a plurality of grooves or ridges, or both grooves and ridges, arranged and configured to generate chaotic mixing within a fluid sample flowing through the microfluidic channel. The microfluidic device also includes a plurality of elongate flexible linker molecules, each having a molecular weight between about 1.8-4.8 kDa, where each elongate flexible linker molecule is bound at a first end to an internal surface of at least one wall of the microfluidic channel and is bound at a second end to one or more binding moieties that specifically bind to a target extracellular vesicle.

The present invention provides a particle enhanced agglutination immunoassay including the steps of: mixing a sample solution containing an analyte with a solution containing insoluble carrier particles carrying a binding partner or binding partners for the analyte to prepare a mixed solution; determining a variation (i) in intensity of light scattered from the mixed solution based on a difference in intensity of scattered light between first and second time points; determining a variation (ii) in absorbance of the mixed solution based on a difference in absorbance between third and fourth time points; and correlating the determined variation (i) in intensity of scattered light and the determined variation (ii) in absorbance with an amount of the analyte present in the sample using a calibration curve plotted based on the variation in intensity of scattered light and a calibration curve plotted based on the variation in absorbance. The present invention employs measurements of the intensity of scattered light and the absorbance in combination for a single assay, and thus provides a particle enhanced agglutination immunoassay which achieves higher sensitivity and a wider dynamic range than conventional assays.

A method of enriching nucleic acid, including mixing a sample with a solid phase extraction material; and separating the solid phase extraction material; wherein the solid phase extraction material is glass beads or magnetic beads modified with reduced graphene oxide. Also disclosed is a method of detecting nucleic acid, including mixing a nucleic acid sample enriched by the method above with a probe; and amplifying and detecting an amplification product by electrophoresis.