The present invention concern a method and a device for the isolation of non-magnetic cells from a heterogeneous sample solution containing biological material including desired and undesired cells. The method comprises the steps of: —adding magnetic or magnetizable particles to the sample, wherein said particles have sizes in a range from 100 nm to 4 μm and exhibit surface components which support specific association with target cells, wherein said target cells comprise are either said desired or said undesired cells; —decreasing said external magnetic field gradient; —incubating said sample solution with said magnetic particles to obtain a magnetized cell fraction; —washing said magnetized cell fraction using a washing solution to reduce non-specific binding; —increasing said external magnetic field gradient; —separating said magnetized cell fractionation of target cells from said sample; wherein said sample solution is subjected to an external magnetic field gradient throughout said adding, incubating, washing and separating steps, and wherein said sample solution is rotated at least during said adding, incubating and washing steps.

Embodiments may include a rapid test device that provide rapid detection of pathogen infection and techniques for rapid assessment of immunity to the pathogen. In an embodiment, a device may comprise a mechanism configured to hold a cartridge configured to receive a test sample, the cartridge comprising: a first chamber configured to receive the test sample, the first chamber pre-filled with micromagnetic particles, a first reservoir pre-filled with secondary antibodies labeled with a fluorescent compound, a mechanism configured to move the secondary antibodies from the first reservoir to the first chamber, a computer system to control the mechanism configured to move the magnetic device to: mix the micromagnetic particles with the test sample by moving the micromagnetic particles, mix the micromagnetic particles with the secondary antibodies, and move the micromagnetic particles to the detection region, and circuitry configured to detect fluorescence of the fluorescent compound in the detection region.

The present disclosure provides a reagent kit for detecting a sex hormone, which contains a first reagent containing a metal nanoprobe in which a sex hormone and a Raman reporter are immobilized and a second reagent containing a magnetic particle in which an antibody for detecting the sex hormone is immobilized, and a method for detecting a sex hormone using the same.

A method, system, and apparatus for the rapid detection of analyte(s) of interest are disclosed which can provide high sensitivity quantification of the analyte concentration in a lateral follow assay. The method includes labeling detection molecules with magnetic particles and immobilizing the magnetic particles on a nitrocellulose membrane upon specific biochemical recognition and binding. An external magnetic field is applied to the magnetic particles to induce magnetic induction, and a magnetoresistance sensor is positioned close to the membrane and magnetic particles. A periodic signal in the sensor is produced when a mechanical oscillatory movement is provided to the membrane relative to the sensor (or vice versa). Triggered time averaging of signals in synchronization with the oscillatory motion enables noise reduction of less than 30 dB and significant improvement of assay sensitivity. An x-y motion program for scanning the test line and control line on the membrane can produce magnetic 2D mapping of the lines, further differentiating the bound particles at the lines from unbound particles in the background, rendering a more accurate assay.

Embodiments may include a rapid test device that provide rapid detection of substances, including those involved in pathogen infection, for example, using Microscale Affinity Chromatography (MAC), indirect ELISA, and optical molecular sensing technology. For example, in an embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a loading bay disposed on the apparatus to receive a cartridge, a door disposed on the apparatus to cover the loading bay, a plurality of prongs disposed on an interior of the door to provide actuation force to dispense blister reservoirs disposed on the cartridge when the door is closed, and a device disposed relative to the cartridge to move at least a portion of contents of the cartridge among chambers of the cartridge.

The present invention relates to a multi-microorganism detection system, and more particularly, to a multi-microorganism detection system using a dielectrophoresis force. Provided is a rapid and accurate multi-microorganism detection system. Microorganisms are concentrated at a high throughput using DEP after synthesizing the microorganisms and fluorescent magnetic particles, and when a complex in which the fluorescent magnetic particles are bound to the microorganisms passes through a detection unit by moving only the microorganisms to the detection unit after separating the magnetic particles from the complex (i.e., the microorganisms to which the magnetic particles are bound) using a DEP force, a fluorescence signal of a specific wavelength band is generated according to the type of the fluorescent magnetic particle and the concentration of the microorganisms according to the type of microorganism is measured by measuring and analyzing the fluorescence signal.

The methods of the invention employ targeted magnetic particles, preferably targeted nanomagnetic particles, and targeted buoyant particles such as buoyant microparticles and microbubbles. Among the benefits of the invention is the ability to combine targeted magnetic particles with differentially targeted buoyant particles to achieve separation of two or more specifically cell targeted populations during the same work flow.

Disclosed herein are devices, systems, and methods for monitoring single-molecule biological processes using magnetic sensors and magnetic particles (MNP). A MNP is attached to a biopolymer (e.g., a nucleic acid, protein, etc.), and motion of the MNP is detected and/or monitored using a magnetic sensor. Because the MNP is small (e.g., its size is comparable to the size of the molecule being monitored) and is tethered to a biopolymer, changes in the volume of Brownian motion of the MNP in a solution can be monitored to monitor the movement of the MNP and, by inference, the tethered biopolymer. The magnetic sensor is small (e.g., nanoscale or having a size on the order of the sizes of the MNP and the biopolymer) and can be used to detect even small changes in the position of the MNP within the sensing region of the magnetic sensor.

A micro-syringe for inserting into a sample matrix. The micro-syringe includes a micro-syringe body having an orifice at an insertion end; and a plunger at least partially coated with a solid-phase micro-extraction (SPME) coating. The plunger is longitudinally movable between an internal position and an extended position. When the syringe is inserted into the sample matrix, the extraction phase is shielded from the sample matrix by the micro-syringe body when the plunger is in the internal position, and at least a portion of the extraction phase extends past the orifice and is exposed to the sample matrix when the plunger is in the extended position. The plunger is sized to fit the internal diameter of the micro-syringe body to draw a liquid into the micro-syringe body when the plunger is moved from the extended position to the internal position.

The present invention provides a method for preparing colloidal palladium nanoparticles and using them for increased sensitivity in lateral flow immunoassays. Glutaraldehyde is used in preparing the colloidal palladium that allows rapid attachment of biomolecules. Colloidal palladium nanoparticles are labeled with a protein, such as a biomolecule or an antibody. These labeled colloidal palladium particles catalytically develop a dye to detect the presence of an analyte.