Disclosed herein are diagnostic assays using surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)-active particles, including liquid-based assays; magnetic capture assays; microparticle-nanoparticle satellite structures for signal amplification in an assay; composite SERS-active particles useful for enhanced detection of targets; and sample tubes and processes for using the same.

A cartridge (110) and a method process target components (T1, T2) of a sample fluid, for example the detection of cardiac markers in blood. The cartridge (110) includes a reaction chamber (114) with a hydrophilic reaction surface (115). A physical barrier (116,118) on the reaction surface (115), for example a protrusion, at least partially borders an investigation region (117,117′) which includes capture probes (CP1, CP2) that specifically bind to target components (T1, T2) of the sample fluid.

The disclosed invention includes methods and kits for the removal of white blood cells from samples of immunomagnetically enriched rare cells by treating the sample with a leukocyte marker conjugated to a hapten which adheres to the white blood cells and treating the resulting product with a second medium that adheres to the hapten of the white blood cells that are labeled with the leukocyte marker conjugated to hapten and removing the labeled white blood cells.

The present disclosure relates to a system for monitoring post-translational modification of protein using a biosensor with a gap, which performs with high reliability a diagnosis of a disease associated with a target protein for which impedance is measured, by measuring an impedance of a sample introduced into a sensor and calculating a change rate of the measured impedance, and to a method of manufacturing the biosensor used for the system.

Disclosed herein is a biosensor for optical detection of Brownian relaxation dynamics of magnetic particles measured by light transmission. The magnetic particles can be functionalized with biological ligands for the detection of target analytes in a sample.

Disclosed herein is a biosensor for optical detection of Brownian relaxation dynamics of magnetic particles measured by light transmission. The magnetic particles can be functionalized with biological ligands for the detection of target analytes in a sample. The setup may be implemented in a disc and optical pick-up head configuration.

The invention discloses a method for selecting cells depending on their level of displaying and preferably secreting a protein of interest from a population of heterogeneously expressing cells, comprising: (a) contacting said cells with magnetic beads coated with an affinity group to the said cells, (b) mixing the said magnetic beads with the cells to capture the cells displaying/secreting the protein of interest, (c) performing at least one washing step to remove the non-captured cells, and (d) recovering the cells to which that magnetic beads have bound.

The present invention is directed to methods for reducing cross-reactivity between species employed in multiplexed immunoassays.

A magnetic bead-based digital microfluidic immunoanalysis device and a method thereof are provided, which includes a lower plate, an upper plate disposed above the lower plate, a separating structure therebetween and a magnet disposed on the upper plate or the lower plate. The lower plate includes a first electrode layer including a plurality of channel electrodes with different sizes. A droplet containing few magnetic beads is adapted to be disposed on the lower plate and corresponding to the channel electrodes. The magnet attracts the magnetic beads to approach to the smaller one of the channel electrodes though a magnetic force, and when a voltage is applied to the first electrode layer, the droplet is divided to a detection portion with the magnetic beads and a waste-liquid portion without the magnetic beads respectively corresponding to the smaller one and the larger one of the channel electrodes through a dual-direction electrowetting-on-dielectric force.

A discontinuous wall magnet having an opening or channel is provided. A bead separation magnet having a discontinuous or segmented wall is also provided. The segmented wall causes bead formation to form in a segmented or gapped ring to allow for easier manual pipetting. Also provided are systems and kits having the inventive magnets. Methods of purifying a macromolecule using the inventive magnets are also provided.