A microfluidic device comprising one or more fluidic microchannels and one or more arrays of cell assay units is disclosed. Each cell assay unit in turn comprises at one bipolar electrode, micropocket, reaction chamber, and leak channel. In some embodiments, the cell assay unit further comprises two or more split BPEs inside the reaction chamber. The disclosed microfluidic device can be used to separate cells, especially rare cells, from its biological matrix and then analyze the isolated cell inside the reaction chamber. The disclosed device can isolate and analyze cells in a high-throughput fashion and without any modification or labelling to the cells. Cells isolated using the disclosed devices does not lose their vitality.

A method of detecting a target biological entity in a biofluid using a sensor, wherein the biofluid comprises a plurality of the target biological entities and nanoparticles, the sensor comprising a substrate bearing a pair of electrodes having an affinity with the nanoparticles, and wherein a region between the electrodes defines a sensing region. The method comprises: treating the biofluid with a suspension comprising a plurality of nanoparticles to obtain a treated mixture comprising bound nanoparticle-entity assemblies; introducing the treated mixture to the sensor; conditioning the sensor in the presence of the treated mixture by applying an activation voltage between the electrodes to increase a degree of connection between a surface of the pair of electrodes and at least one bound nanoparticle-entity assembly in contact with the surface of the pair of electrodes; and detecting the presence of target biological entities by using the pair of electrodes to detect a current through the at least one bound nanoparticle-entity assembly.

An electronic driving circuit for a microfluidic device, having a number of synchronized driving stages to generate a respective driving signal for each electrode or group of electrodes of the microfluidic device, the driving signals having a desired amplitude, frequency and phase-shift. Each driving stage has a switching-mode amplifier stage to receive a clock signal and a target signal and to generate, at an output thereof, an output signal defining a respective driving signal. The amplifier stage has: a switching module, coupled to a first internal node and controlled by the clock signal for selectively bringing the first internal node to a control signal; a filter module, coupled between the first internal node and the output, to provide the output signal; and a feedback module.

Disclosed herein are example embodiments of a transformative sensor apparatus that is capable of detecting and quantifying the presence of a substance of interest such as a specified bacteria within a sample via changes in impedance exhibited by a detection electrode array. In an example embodiment, sensitivity is improved by including a focusing electrode array in a rampdown channel to focus a concentration of the substance of interest into a detection region. The focusing electrodes include an opposing pair of electrodes in a rampdown orientation. The focusing electrode may also include tilted thin film finger electrodes extending from the rampdown electrodes. In another example embodiment, trapping electrodes are positioned to trap a concentration of the substance of interest onto the detection electrode array.

An apparatus for immobilizing a particle in a fluid and a method for operating the apparatus are disclosed. The apparatus includes a membrane for separating a fluid from a compartment, one or more electrodes disposed proximate to the membrane, a counter-electrode, wherein the one or more electrodes and the counter-electrode are configured to generate a non-linear electric field across the one or more electrodes and the counter-electrode, and a power source for providing an alternating current (AC) across the one or more electrodes and the counter-electrode, thereby generating an oscillating non-linear electric field for immobilizing a particle suspended in the fluid that flows between the one or more electrodes and the counter-electrode. The membrane can have an opening to allow for mechanical manipulation of the particle that is immobilized with a sharp member configured to enter across the membrane from the compartment.

An apparatus and method for isolating bacterial particles in a sample using a container with material in temporary fluid blocking position to lower orifice in the container, a separation medium having an electrical conductivity lower than and physical density greater than that of the sample above the material that supports a sample concentrate after passing through the separation medium when exposed to centrifugal force, a heating element for liquefying the material to permit flow into a chamber past an electrode array that attracts and holds subject particles. The system allows rapid detection and isolation of particles from samples from animal, human, environmental sites, a bio-industrial reactor or a food or beverage production facility requiring relatively small volumes, short incubation times resulting in structurally intact particles for further analysis. Testing may be completed in a single unit that requires decreased technician manipulation, fewer steps and a decrease in cross-contamination.

Disclosed are miniaturized electronic systems, devices and methods for biomarker analysis, which can be incorporated into blood collection tubes and other containers that enable the immediate isolation, concentration, analysis and storage of disease related biomarkers upon blood draw. In some aspects, a miniaturized electronic system includes a high-surface area folded or sandwiched electrokinetic microelectrode array chip device that allows both AC dielectrophoretic (DEP) and DC electrophoretic based separation and isolation and other processes to be used for the concentration and biomarkers.

An apparatus for separating an analyte from a test sample, such as bacteria from blood components, based on their dielectric properties, localizing or condensing the analyte, flushing substantially all remaining waste products from the test sample, and detecting low concentrations of the analyte. The module array includes a plurality of microfluidic channels with connecting microfluidic waste channels for directing undesired material away from the analyte. A detection method for separating and analyzing a contaminant using the apparatus allows for transporting a test sample having an analyte and a waste product through at least one microfluidic channel; generating dielectrophoretic forces on the test sample as the test sample is transported through the at least one microfluidic channel; trapping the test sample to separate the waste product from the analyte; separating the waste product from the analyte; and sensing, with a sensor, the analyte

A method of detecting a target biological entity in a biofluid using a sensor, wherein the biofluid comprises a plurality of the target biological entities and nanoparticles, the sensor comprising a substrate bearing a pair of electrodes having an affinity with the nanoparticles, and wherein a region between the electrodes defines a sensing region. The method comprises: treating the biofluid with a suspension comprising a plurality of nanoparticles to obtain a treated mixture comprising bound nanoparticle-entity assemblies; introducing the treated mixture to the sensor; conditioning the sensor in the presence of the treated mixture by applying an activation voltage between the electrodes to increase a degree of connection between a surface of the pair of electrodes and at least one bound nanoparticle-entity assembly in contact with the surface of the pair of electrodes; and detecting the presence of target biological entities by using the pair of electrodes to detect a current through the at least one bound nanoparticle-entity assembly.

Methods, systems and kits are described herein for detecting the results of an assay. In particular, the methods, systems and devices of the present disclosure rely on a difference between the diffusion rates of a reporter molecule and an analyte of interest in order to quantify an amount of analyte in a microfluidic device. The analyte may be a secreted product of a biological micro-object.