The invention relates to the prophylaxis and/or treatment of fibrosis and/or fibrotic diseases by means of antibodies. Above all, the invention relates to the administration of an anti-alpha-v integrin (receptor) antibody to patients suffering from fibrosis and/or fibrotic diseases, including but not limited to systemic sclerosis (SSc). More specifically, the instant invention relates to the treatment of fibrotic diseases of the skin, lung, heart, liver and/or kidney by means of said antibody. Even more specifically, the instant invention relates to the administration of a recombinant, de-immunized monoclonal antibody targeting αv-integrins patients suffering from systemic sclerosis, including, but not limited to systemic sclerosis of the skin, lung, heart and/or kidney by means of the anti-alpha-v integrin antibody DI17E6 and structural mutants or modifications thereof.

Devices that includes a first portion, the first portion including at least one fluid channel; a fluid actuator; an analysis sensor disposed within the fluid channel; a conductivity sensor disposed within the fluid channel; and an introducer; a second portion, the second portion comprising: at least one well, the well containing at least one material, wherein one of the first or second portion is moveable with respect to the other, wherein the introducer is configured to obtain at least a portion of the material from the at least one well and deliver it to the fluid channel, and wherein the fluid actuator is configured to move at least a portion of the material in the fluid channel.

A fluidic device for detecting a target molecule in a fluid sample comprising a blocking chamber in fluidic communication with a detection chamber forming a blocking-detection chamber pair, the blocking chamber provided with at least one reagent for binding a non-target molecule in the sample, the blocking chamber adapted to maintain at least a portion of the bound non-target molecule within the blocking chamber, the detection chamber comprising at least one reagent for binding a target-molecule such that the target-molecule may be detected. The device comprises a combination detection chamber adapted to receive at least one reagent for binding both target and non-target molecules such that the combination of target and non-target molecules may be detected by binding to a detector.

Methods and systems for identifying and/or quantifying polypeptide binding interactions of ligand-binding polypeptides are disclosed. Detailed methods include methods for identifying binding ligands of ligand-binding polypeptides and methods for assessing changes in binding behavior due to alterations of ligand-binding polypeptides. Detailed systems include array-based systems that permit detection of ligand binding interactions at single-analyte resolution.

A cell screening device including a bottom plate, a cell placement membrane, a pair of fluid injection parts, and a flow channel, the flow channel being formed between the bottom plate and the cell placement membrane and extending in such a manner that the flow channel end parts respectively reach the fluid injection parts. In the cell placement membrane, a plurality of wells, each having a size capable of housing a single cell, and through holes are formed. In the back side of each lid, i.e., the ceiling face of the flow channel end part, a debubbling surface, which rises in an inclined or step-like manner as getting closer to a fluid injection hole, is formed.

Described are devices for and methods of modulating a fluid sample. The devices (10, 40, 60, 80, 100, 130, 160, 220) include at least one sample-modulating component (20, 76, 78, 90, 110, 112, 116, 150, 152, 154, 162, 164, 182, 184, 186, 222, and 230) and, in some embodiments, two or more sample-modulating components. The sample-modulating components are each capable of performing a function selected from the following group: concentrating the sample to increase a concentration of a first constituent of the sample; diluting the sample to decrease a concentration of a second constituent in of the sample; desalinating the sample to decrease the total moles of salt in the sample volume or causing a temporary decrease in the osmolarity; adjusting pH of the sample to bring a pH of the sample into a predetermined range; absorbing one or more nonpolar substances to decrease a concentration of the nonpolar substances; and delivering one or more reagents to the sample to provide a desired concentration of the reagent in the sample.

The present invention is related to the field of bio/chemical sampling, sensing, assays and applications. Particularly, the present invention is related to how to make the sampling/sensing/assay become simple to use, fast to results, highly sensitive, easy to use, using tiny sample volume (e.g., 0.5 μL or less), operated by a person without any professionals, reading by mobile-phone, or low cost, or a combination of them.

The disclosure relates to multi-well plates having fluidic connections between neighboring wells that are useful to produce a cell culture substrate and compliant with American National Standards Institute of the Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening (ANSI/SLAS) microplate standards

Devices and methods for performing pre-analysis sample processing of biological and chemical samples using robotic liquid handlers are disclosed. Methods for solid phase extraction, protein precipitation and filtration of biological and chemical samples using automation and the devices in a rapid and convenient way are described.

A biosensing device for continuous monitoring of an analyte in a fluid matrix includes an electromagnetic excitation element [402], a biosensing surface [406], an opposing surface [410], a separation component [420,422], light collection optics [412], a light sensor [414], an image recording and analysis system [416], and an excitation control system [400]. The separation component is connected to the biosensing surface and to the opposing surface, forming a concave gap region [408] between the biosensing surface and the opposing surface. The biosensing surface comprises biosensing particles sensitive to electromagnetic signals from the electromagnetic excitation element, where an optical response of the biosensing particles to the electromagnetic signals is adapted to change in the presence of an analyte in the gap region. The light collection optics couple light emitted from the biosensing particles on the biosensing surface to the light sensor. The image recording and analysis system is connected to the light sensor and processes light signals from the biosensing particles to determine presence or absence or concentration of the analyte in the fluid matrix.