This disclosure relates to soluble β-glucan immunotherapies that affect the tumor microenvironment. The soluble β-glucan immunotherapies promote an immunostimulatory environment, which enhances the effectiveness of the combination of anti-angiogenics and checkpoint inhibitors.

Methods and reagents for processing samples for fluorescence analysis. Processing methods include treating samples containing riboflavin to reduce riboflavin-dependent autofluorescence by adding riboflavin binding protein to the sample, irradiating the sample, or a combination thereof. Processing methods also include clarifying samples by coagulating, precipitating, and/or otherwise removing proteins and other components that interfere with fluorescence analysis without removing the analyte. Fluorescence analysis methods include fluorescence polarization analysis (FPA) and others. Reagents suitable for performing the disclosed methods are provided.

The present invention relates to the unexpected discovery of methods and devices that can be used for high-throughput precise quantification, detection and/or temporal profiling of cellular secretions. In various embodiments, the methods of the invention allow for high-throughput absolute detection of secretions of cells, identification of the nature of the secreted molecules, and/or the nature of the secreting cells. Further, the present invention includes a device combining microfluidics and antibody printing, wherein the device can be used to detect protein secretion signature of cells in a high-throughput manner. Further, the present invention includes compositions comprising molecules that can be used to reduce cell death and to implement cell-less therapies. Further, the present invention includes a method for training an algorithm to predict temporal profile of cellular secretion.

Disclosed herein is an improved method for magnetic capture of target molecules (e.g., microbes) in a fluid. Kits and solid substrates for carrying the method described herein are also provided. In some embodiments, the methods, kits, and solid substrates described herein are optimized for separation and/or detection of microbes and microbe-associated molecular pattern (MAMP) (including, e.g., but not limited to, a cell component of microbes, lipopolysaccharides (LPS), and/or endotoxin).

A fluid specimen collection, storage, transport, and testing cup contains a removable chromatographic strip-carrying cartridge and an axially moveable liquid specimen preserving caddy which moves between a first, pre-test position and a second, post-test position. During which a caddy drain is temporarily opened allowing an amount of liquid specimen deposited in the caddy to flow into the cup and contact the strips. Once in the second position, the drain is sealed for later confirmatory testing. The caddy is moved between the two positions by screwing a threaded lid more tightly onto the top opening of the cup. The axial range of the screw is limited by a removable obstruction collar. The caddy can include a liquid specimen containing chamber having a lower opening sealed by a frangible barrier.

The subject matter discloses systems and methods for magnetic capturing of rare cells from a liquid sample. The system includes a capture chip (104) having a longitudinal channel (208) comprising a first part (304) and a second part (306). The capture chip (104) has a capture well (302) near an end of the second part (306) closer to an interfacing region between the first part (304) and the second part (306). The system includes a first set (126) of multiple rows of magnets for the magnetic capturing of the rare cells in the first part (304) of the longitudinal channel (208), where a first row (132) of the first set (126) of multiple rows has magnets that span a length of the first part (304) of the longitudinal channel (208) and each subsequent row of the first set (126) of multiple rows has one magnet less than a previous row.

A system for measuring analyte concentrations has porous-walled nanocontainers containing multiple magnetic nanoparticles, the magnetic nanoparticles coated with a selective binder that is analyte-responsive and binds a the analyte, an indicator substance releasable from the selective binder by the analyte, or an indicator substance cleavable by the analyte, apparatus for exposing the nanocontainers to a fluid potentially containing the analyte, and magnetic spectroscopy of Brownian motion sensing apparatus for detecting agglutination of the nanoparticles or binding of analyte to the nanoparticles. The system is used in a method comprising coating magnetic nanoparticles with a selective binder, encapsulating the magnetic nanoparticles in porous nanocontainers, exposing the nanocontainers to a fluid potentially containing analyte, using magnetic spectroscopy of Brownian motion sensing apparatus to detect agglutination or binding of the nanoparticles, and translating Brownian motion spectra to analyte concentrations.

Disclosed herein are photodegradable hydrogels and associated kits for selectively capturing and releasing cells. The hydrogels result from cross linking in the presence of a photoinitiator (1) a macromer having a polymeric backbone structure, a photo labile moiety, and a first linking moiety, and (2) a cell-binding moiety having a second linking moiety. These two components are cross-linked by a polymerization reaction of the linking moieties to form a photodegradable hydrogel incorporating the cell-binding moiety within the hydrogel. Also disclosed are methods of making the hydrogels, and methods of using the hydrogels for selectively capturing and releasing cells and for detecting cells in a fluid. Such methods can be used to detect the presence and quantity of certain rare cell types in a biological fluid.

Embodiments include disposable sensor elements, systems including the same and related methods. In an embodiment, a disposable sensor element is included having a substrate and a first measurement zone comprising a plurality of discrete binding detectors. The first measurement zone can define a portion of a first gas flow path. In some embodiments the disposable sensor element can further include a second measurement zone, separate from the first measurement zone. The second measurement zone can include a plurality of discrete binding detectors. The second measurement zone can be disposed outside of the first gas flow path. Other embodiments are also included herein.

The present invention relates to the use of a substrate for enhancing the fluorescence of a fluorescent molecule, wherein the substrate comprises a solid polymer carrier having a plurality of recesses separated from each other and wherein the solid carrier is coated at least in part by a metal.