Methods for fabricating a biochip for detecting or sequencing biomolecules are shown. Such a biochip may for instance include: a base member; a dielectric layer deposited on the base member and having at least two rows of discrete recesses formed thereon; and two or more electrodes sandwiched between the base member and the dielectric layer and running under respective row of discrete recesses, the two or more electrodes separated from each other along lengths thereof by a portion of the dielectric layer; wherein the dielectric layer defines a continuous operation surface above the electrodes and on which the discrete recesses are deposited for detecting or sequencing of biomolecules, when an electric field is applied through the electrodes, a field gradient is created to draw a biomolecule towards a preferred part of the operation surface.

There is described herein methods and devices for confining and/or manipulating molecules. At least one molecule is introduced into a fluidic chamber. The fluidic chamber is formed inside a device comprising at least one first electrode having a first surface spaced from at least one second electrode having a second surface facing the first surface. The at least one second electrode has a plurality of dielectric structures arranged to form openings along the second surface. At least one electrical signal is applied across the at least one first electrode and the at least one second electrode to generate a non-uniform electric field having electric field lines extending from the first surface of the at least one first electrode to the second surface of the at least one second electrode in the openings formed between the dielectric structures. The at least one electrical signal has a frequency level causing the at least one molecule to move inside the fluidic chamber in accordance with a predetermined movement.

The present invention provides novel microfluidic substrates and methods that are useful for performing biological, chemical and diagnostic assays. The substrates can include a plurality of electrically addressable, channel bearing fluidic modules integrally arranged such that a continuous channel is provided for flow of immiscible fluids.

A biological sorting apparatus is disclosed, which includes a light-induced dielectrophoretic chip, a supporting platform, an injecting unit and a projection module. The light-induced dielectrophoretic chip is configured to generate an internal electric field to perform sorting on a fluid including first microparticles and second micropartides. The supporting platform is utilized to support the light-induced dielectrophoretic chip thereon and has an opening. The injecting unit is configured to inject the fluid into the light-induced dielectrophoretic chip. The projection module is disposed below the supporting platform and is configured to project a light pattern onto a projection area of the light-induced dielectrophoretic chip through the opening of the supporting platform, such that the light-induced dielectrophoretic chip produces a light-induced effect to change the internal electric field, thereby sorting out the first microparticles and the second microparticles.

A method for enriching a heterogeneous population of cells includes loading one or more sample chambers containing DEP electrodes therein with a solution containing the heterogeneous population of cells, wherein the heterogeneous population of cells comprises a first subpopulation of cells having a first crossover frequency and a second subpopulation of cells having a second, higher crossover frequency. An AC electrical field is applied to the DEP electrodes, wherein the AC electrical field has an applied frequency that is between the crossover frequency of the first subpopulation of cells and the second subpopulation of cells, wherein the first subpopulation of cells are substantially killed by the applied electrical field and the second subpopulation of cells are substantially not killed by the applied electrical field.

Apparatuses and methods for selectively transmitting objects of interest from a first reservoir to a second reservoir are disclosed. The apparatuses include electromagnetic focusing apparatuses configured to interact with objects of interest to induce a change in a property of the objects of interest so as to increase or decrease the probability that the objects of interest pass through a throat diffusively coupling the first reservoir and the second reservoir.

An analyte selection device can include: a body defining a fluid channel having a channel inlet and channel outlet; a bipolar electrode (BPE) between the inlet and outlet; one of an anode or cathode electrically coupled with the BPE on a channel inlet side of the BPE and the other of the anode or cathode electrically coupled with the BPE on a channel outlet side of the BPE; and an electronic system operably coupled with the anode and cathode so as to polarize the BPE. The fluid channel can have any shape or dimension. The channel inlet and channel outlet can be longitudinal or lateral with respect to the longitudinal axis of the channel. The BPE can be any metallic member, such as a flat plate on a wall or mesh as a barrier BPE. The anode and cathode can be located at a position that polarizes the BPE.

A particle manipulation device includes a substrate and a microchannel included in the substrate and configured to receive a fluid including particles therein. A biasing structure is formed on the substrate adjacent to, but outside the microchannel. The biasing structure is configured to dispense radiation at a frequency to bias movement of the particles within the microchannel from outside the microchannel.

A particle manipulation device includes a substrate and a microchannel included in the substrate and configured to receive a fluid including particles therein. A biasing structure is formed on the substrate adjacent to, but outside the microchannel. The biasing structure is configured to dispense radiation at a frequency to bias movement of the particles within the microchannel from outside the microchannel.

The combined value of integrating optical forces and electrokinetics allows for the pooled separation vectors of each to be applied, providing for separation based on combinations of features such as size, shape, refractive index, charge, charge distribution, charge mobility, permittivity, and deformability. The interplay of these separation vectors allow for the selective manipulation of analytes with a finer degree of variation. Embodiments include methods of method of separating particles in a microfluidic channel using a device comprising a microfluidic channel, a source of laser light focused by an optic into the microfluidic channel, and a source of electrical field operationally connected to the microfluidic channel via electrodes so that the laser light and the electrical field to act jointly on the particles in the microfluidic channel. Other devices and methods are disclosed.