The invention relates to a processing device (110) and a method for manufacturing such a device. In a preferred embodiment, a mixture of magnetic particles (MP), a matrix material, and a volatile carrier is deposited onto binding sites (112) of a reaction surface (113). The deposited mixture is then dried while the magnetic particles (MP) are pulled away from the reaction surface (113) by a magnetic field (B). Thus unspecific binding of magnetic particles to the binding sites can be prevented.

The present disclosure in some aspects provides methods for the controlled merging of emulsion droplets, which can be used to assemble useful compositions such as droplets (e.g., stabilized micelles) containing a precise combination of analytes and/or analytical reagents. In some embodiments, disclosed herein is a method, e.g., for detecting the presence/absence, a level or amount, and/or an activity of an analyte in a sample, comprising merging two or more emulsion droplets such that an interaction between an analyte and an analyte-interacting reagent occurs in the merged droplet. The two or more emulsion droplets may be merged using a method for the controlled merging of emulsion droplets disclosed herein.

In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to new compositions of matter that comprise phosphorescent reporters. In some embodiments, the phosphorescent reporters of the present disclosure comprise strontium aluminate. In some embodiments, the strontium aluminate is doped with europium and dysprosium (SrAl.sub.2O.sub.4:Eu.sup.2+, Dy.sup.3+). Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of making the aforementioned phosphorescent reporters. In some embodiments, the method includes size reduction of inorganic phosphorescent powders through a combination of wet milling and settling. In additional embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to methods of detecting the phosphorescent reporters in various settings, such as diagnostic settings.

The present invention relates to compositions comprising magnetic particles, the methods of using these compositions in processing animal sperm, the resulting sperm and embryo products, and the methods of use of these compositions to increase the efficiency, efficacy and/or speed of cell processing and artificial insemination techniques.

Disclosed herein are magnetic nanoparticles, compositions and kits comprising the magnetic nanoparticles, methods of making the magnetic nanoparticles, and methods of using the magnetic nanoparticles to enrich biological targets.

The present invention relates to a method for detection of at least one target molecule in a blood sample comprising at least the following steps: (a) providing a blood sample; (b1) contacting said sample with an antioxidant and applying said sample to a filter to separate the blood cells from said sample; and/or (b2) applying said sample to a filter to separate the blood cells from said sample, wherein said filter comprises an antioxidant; (c) contacting said sample with a first binding molecule in the cartridge, wherein said first binding molecule is attached to a magnetic particle, and wherein said first binding molecule is capable of specifically binding to said at least one target molecule; (d) contacting said sample with a second binding molecule, wherein said second binding molecule is attached to a sensor surface, and wherein said second binding molecule is capable of specifically binding to said at least one target molecule; and (e) detecting the magnetic particles on the sensor surface. The present invention also relates to the use of an antioxidant in the process of detection of at least one target molecule in a blood sample as well as to cartridges for insertion into an assay device for detection of at least one target molecule in a blood sample.

Provided are encoded polymeric microparticles and a multiplexed bioassay using the encoded polymeric microparticles. Each of the encoded polymeric microparticles includes an encoded polymeric microparticle core and a silica shell surrounding the microparticle core. Further provided is a method for producing encoded polymeric microparticles. The method includes: mixing a photocurable material with a linker having a functional group polymerizable with the photocurable material and an alkoxysilyl group; applying patterned energy to cure the mixture, followed by encoding to obtain encoded polymeric microparticle cores; and treating the encoded polymeric microparticle cores with a silica precursor to form a silica shell on each encoded polymeric microparticle core.

Provided herein are lipid vesicle-coated magnetic beads, and methods of making and using the same.

A method of quantifying an autoantibody includes the steps of reacting a biological sample containing the autoantibody as a test substance with an antigen that is specifically recognized by and bound to the autoantibody, in competition with a known amount of a competition antibody that competes with the autoantibody for binding to the antigen; reacting the autoantibody bound to the antigen with a detection antibody that recognizes and binds to the autoantibody, but does not recognize the competition antibody; measuring a signal derived from the detection antibody bound to the autoantibody; and calculating an amount of the autoantibody contained in the biological sample by utilizing, as an index therefor, an amount of the competition antibody that provides 50% reduction of the signal derived from the detection antibody which is bound to the autoantibody in absence of the competition antibody.

A method for cellular separation, including: combining sperm with magnetic particles comprising a negative zeta potential charge to form an admixture, each magnetic particle being no greater than 1,000 nm; binding a subpopulation of said sperm to said magnetic particles through an electrical charge interaction to provide a bound subpopulation; and magnetically separating said bound subpopulation from unbound sperm.