In at least one illustrative embodiment, a system may include a basin that includes an index plate positioned at a bottom of the basin. The basin is configured to receive a liquid analyte, such as a liquid food product or a nutrient broth. The index plate includes an array of multiple wells. Each well opens into an interior of the basin and is sized to receive a magnetostrictive sensor in a predetermined orientation. One or more sensor coils is positionable beneath each well. The basin may be filled with liquid analyte and magnetostrictive sensors may be positioned in the wells. The liquid analyte may be allowed to incubate at a controlled temperature. A controller may position a sensor coil beneath a well, apply a varying magnetic field to a magnetostrictive sensor in the well, and detect a frequency response of the magnetostrictive sensor. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

A method of detecting a pathogen in a sample, comprising: mixing at least a portion of the sample with a plurality of capture particles functionalized with a molecular recognition element exhibiting specific binding to said pathogen to capture at least a portion of pathogen particles when present in the sample; exposing said captured pathogen particles to at least two fluorescent dyes, which emit fluorescent radiation at two different wavelengths in response to excitation, such that live pathogen particles among said captured pathogen particles are preferentially stained with one of the dyes and dead pathogen particles among said captured pathogen particles are preferentially stained with the other dye; irradiating the captured stained pathogen particles with excitation radiation to excite said fluorescent dyes; and detecting fluorescent radiation emitted by said excited fluorescent dyes; and distinguishing said live pathogen particles from said dead pathogen particles based on wavelengths of the detected fluorescent radiation.

A separation system, a method in a separation system and an elution arrangement to be provided in a separation system for separating a biomolecule from a cell culture are provided. The method comprises the steps of: —providing a feed from a cell culture (3; 103; 203) comprising said biomolecule to a magnetic separator (5; 105; 205) and providing to the magnetic separator magnetic beads comprising ligands capable of binding this biomolecule; —separating by the magnetic separator said magnetic beads with bound biomolecules from the rest of the feed; —forwarding said magnetic beads as a slurry with an added buffer to an elution cell (7; 107; 207); —eluting the bound biomolecules in the elution cell.

The present disclosure includes methods and systems of detecting bacteria in a sample using phage-functionalized sensors, methods of enriching a sample with phage-functionalized magnetic particles, phage-functionalized magnetic particles and methods of making phage-functionalized magnetic particles.

A method for sensing an analyte uses tethered particle motion. A functionalized particle [500] has a first state [504] in which the functionalized particle is bound to the surface and a second state [502] in which the functionalized particle is not bound to the surface, where the functionalized particle switches between the first and second states depending on the presence and absence of the analyte, thereby changing motion characteristics of the functionalized particle depending on the presence of the analyte. A spatial coordinate parameter of the functionalized particle is measured by a detector [516], and a processor [518] determines the presence/concentration of the analyte from changes in the measured spatial coordinate parameter.

Assemblies, systems, and methods for isolation of target material are provided. In various embodiments, an assembly for target material isolation includes a housing having an upper portion and a lower portion together defining an inner chamber. The inner chamber includes a semi-toroidal shape and the semi-toroidal shape defines a longitudinal axis. The assembly further includes one or more fluidic connection from the exterior of the housing to the inner chamber. An isolation material (e.g., polymer wool and/or magnetic beads) may be disposed within the inner chamber. A system includes a configured to fit at least a portion of the housing and releasably couple the assembly. Upon activation of the motor, the assembly may rotate about the longitudinal axis. An angle of the platform may be adjustable to thereby change the angle of the longitudinal axis about which the assembly rotates.

Devices for use in determining properties of biochemicals and macromolecules derived from a biological sample include a fluid control unit and a macromolecule measurement unit integrated on a monolithic platform. Devices and methods of measuring the properties of macromolecules using immobilized magnetic particles are also disclosed.

The present disclosure relates to carbon based biosensors and biosensor systems. The disclosure further relates to methods of rapidly detecting a target material in a biological sample using the biosensor and biosensor systems described herein to characterize a pathogen's antigen profile and/or a subject's immune response to pathogen exposure.

Disclosed herein is a method of detecting the presence or absence of an analyte in a test sample, based on the use of motion resistant particle for example non-magnetic particle coated with first sensing element for the analyte and force driven particle for example superparamagnetic particle coated with a second sensing element for the analyte so as to form a motion resistant particle-analyte-force driven particle conjugate. A viscous medium is added to the mixture and a force such as magnetic force is applied to provide separation of the conjugate for quantification. Disclosed herein are also a sensing kit, a system for detecting the presence or absence of an analyte in a test sample and the use of the kit or the system thereof.

Analytical assay reaction cartridges, kits containing same, and methods of production and use thereof are disclosed. These cartridges include a magnetic assembly that surrounds at least a portion of a sample read window on the cartridge. The cartridge also includes an analytical reagent positioned therewithin, wherein the analytical reagent comprises magnetic beads coated with at least one anti-red blood cell antibody.