A process for the modification of a solid material, said process comprising contacting a surface of the solid material comprising nucleophilic groups with a hydrosilane in a first step to produce a hydrosilanized surface, and contacting said hydrosilanized surface with at least one alkene and/or alkyne under irradiation with visible and/or ultraviolet light in a second step.

Disclosed is a system and method for aiding the sterility of a laboratory by suspending items using magnetic force to a laboratory object, such as a cap or a lid, wherein such cap may be suspended on a rack or stand comprising an arm extending horizontally. The system allows for suspension of items rather than placing them on surfaces, which may lead to contamination. The system may further prevent mixing of lids by increasing organizational capability by magnetic suspension of the caps or lids. The disclosed system supports a wide variety of scenarios for laboratory settings and related products and services.

In situ-generated microfluidic isolation structures incorporating a solidified polymer network, methods of preparation and use, compositions and kits therefor are described. The ability to introduce in real time, a variety of isolating structures including pens and barriers offers improved methods of micro-object manipulation in microfluidic devices. The in situ-generated isolation structures may be permanently or temporarily installed.

An elution apparatus and a detection apparatus are described. The elution apparatus includes: a sample trap for trapping a sample; and one or more pumps and/or valves to move a liquid eluent and a liquid eluate, wherein the eluate includes an extracted portion of the sample that is extracted by the eluent. The detection apparatus includes: a capillary having a low-voltage (LV) end portion to receive a sample; and a conductivity detector coupled to a high-voltage (HV) end portion of the capillary to generate signals based on conductivity of a monitored portion of the capillary in the HV end portion, wherein the conductivity detector is electrically isolated from the LV end portion.

An example of a method includes providing a substrate with an exposed surface comprising a first chemical group, wherein the providing optionally comprises modifying the exposed surface of the substrate to incorporate the first chemical group; reacting the first chemical group with a first reactive group of a functionalized polymer molecule to form a functionalized polymer coating layer covalently bound to the exposed surface of the substrate; grafting a primer to the functionalized polymer coating layer by reacting the primer with a second reactive group of the functionalized polymer coating layer; and forming a water-soluble protective coating on the primer and the functionalized polymer coating layer. Examples of flow cells incorporating examples of the water-soluble protective coating are also disclosed herein.

An evacuated container assembly suitable for use in connection with blood collection including: (a) a container member formed of a first polymeric material and having a sidewall and one or more openings; (b) a nanocomposite barrier coating disposed on the container member having a thickness of up to about 30 microns and being derived from an aqueous dispersion including (i) a dispersed barrier matrix polymer; and (ii) a substantially exfoliated silicate filler having an aspect ratio of more than 50; and (c) one or more sealing members disposed in the opening(s) operative to hermetically seal the cavity; wherein the cavity is evacuated and maintains a pressure below atmospheric pressure and exhibits a draw volume loss lower than that of a like assembly without a nanocomposite barrier film by a factor of at least 1.5.

The present invention relates to a microfluidic analysis device (1) including: a substrate (20) wherein a separation channel (10) is arranged, in which an electrolyte flows, a portion of the separation channel (10) being covered with a polarisable surface (11); two longitudinal field electrodes (8a, 8b) arranged on either side of the separation channel (10); at least one control electrode (6a, 6b) positioned in the separation channel (10), the control electrode (6a, 6b) being suitable for polarising the polarisable surface (11) so as to control the speed of the electro-osmotic flow in the separation channel (10); the microfluidic analysis device (1) being characterised in that the polarisable surface (11) includes an insulating sub-layer (12) made of amorphous silicon carbide (SiC) and an upper polarisable layer (13) in direct contact with the electrolyte, the control electrodes (6a, 6b) being positioned between the insulating sub-layer (12) and the upper polarisable layer (13).

A multi-capillary column pre-concentration trap for use in various chromatography techniques (e.g., gas chromatography (GC) or gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS)) is disclosed. In some examples, the trap can include a plurality of capillary columns connected in series in order of increasing strength (i.e., increasing chemical affinity for one or more sample compounds). A sample can enter the trap, flowing from a sample vial to a relatively weak column to the relatively strongest column of the trap by way of any additional columns included in the trap, for example. In some examples, the trap can be heated and backflushed so that the sample exits the trap through the head of the relatively weak column. Next, the sample can be injected into a chemical analysis device for performing the chromatography technique (e.g., GC or GCMS) or it can be injected into a secondary multi-capillary column trap for further concentration.

[Problem to be solved] A sample storage tube having the seal function to the tube body is provided by integral molding and the airtightness is secured in the sample storage tube.

[Solution] The sample storage tube 100 comprise a first molded portion 210 and a second molded portion 220 by the integral molding. The first molded portion 210 is molded as the base figure of the tube body. The second molded portion 220 includes at least the opening edge portion which contacts the lid 300 and closes the opening. The first molded portion 210 is molded by the first material such as polypropylene, the second molded portion 220 is molded by the second material such as TPE which is suitable for the seal object to secure the airtightness between the opening and the lid 300. This second molded portion providing the seal function is molded onto the opening edge of the tube body by the integral molding. The second molded portion 220 can be molded as a consecutive object from the bottom portion to the opening edge of the tube body.

Methods of preparing surfaces of sample wells are provided. In some aspects, methods of preparing a sample well surface involve contacting the sample well with a block copolymer to form an antifouling overlay over a metal oxide surface of the sample well. In some aspects, methods of passivating and/or selectively functionalizing a sample well surface are provided.