A microfluidic device includes: a base plate allowing an electromagnetic wave to pass therethrough and having no autofluorescence; a microwell array formed on the base plate and including a wall layer in which a plurality of through-holes are formed in a thickness direction; and a lid member disposed opposite to the base plate in a state of being separated from the wall layer, wherein microwells are formed by the base plate and the through-holes formed in the wall layer, and wherein the wall layer is formed of a material containing a colored component that absorbs an electromagnetic wave of a predetermined wavelength.

To provide a plate with which, although the plate has a plurality of microchannels or a microchannel in which a plurality of branch channels are formed, when a sample flowing through a microchannel is observed by a microscope, it is possible to easily identify the position of the microchannel or the branch channel under observation without reducing the magnification of the microscope.

A plate having a microchannel therein includes an identification mark for identifying a position of the microchannel in a plane direction of the plate. When the microchannel includes a plurality of mutually independent microchannels, the identification mark is preferably formed for each microchannel. When the microchannel includes a source channel communicating with an injection port through which a sample is injected and a plurality of branch channels communicating with the source channel, the identification mark is preferably formed for each of the source channel and the branch channels.

A system for characterization and counting of molecules and/or polymers includes: a base substrate; an electrode layer configured to route one or more electrodes for applying; a chip 130 coupled to the electrode layer and configured to mate with a recessed portion of the base substrate; a sealing layer positioned adjacent to the electrode layer; a second substrate positioned adjacent to the sealing layer; and a set of fasteners coupling the second substrate, the sealing layer, the electrode layer, the chip, and the base substrate together as an assembly. Embodiments of the system can be used for molecular quantification, sizing, and characterization of DNA, RNA, and polymers, as well as characterization of macromolecular interactions (e.g., DNA-protein interactions, RNA-protein interactions, protein-protein interactions). Methods of manufacturing and applications of the system are also described.

Laminated microfluidic structures and methods for manufacturing the same are provided. In some instances, a laminated microfluidic structure is provided which includes a distended region having a sipper port at the bottom and an internal channel that fluidically connects the sipper port to a location outside of the distended region. Thermoforming and/or injection molding techniques for manufacturing such laminated microfluidic structures are provided. In other instances, a laminated microfluidic structure may be co-molded with a polymeric material to produce an integrated laminated microfluidic structure and housing.

A novel microfluidic chip is proposed for performing a chemical or biochemical test in a metered reaction volume. The microfluidic chip has a body which defines an inner flow volume. An inlet has been provided to the body for connecting the inner flow volume to the ambient space. A waste channel forms part of the inner flow volume and is in fluid communication with the inlet. A sample channel also forms part of the inner flow volume and is in fluid communication with the inlet. The sample channel includes a first hydrophobic stop and a second hydrophobic stop at a distance from the first hydrophobic stop so as to provide a metered reaction volume there between. An expelling channel is in fluid communication with the metered reaction volume of the sample channel through the first hydrophobic stop. A sample reservoir is in fluid communication with the metered reaction volume of the sample channel through the second hydrophobic stop.

The present disclosure provides a microfluidic device comprising a set of micro-structured electrodes. The electrodes are made of a fusible alloy such as Field's Metal and are patterned on a layer of PDMS. The molten fusible alloy is poured over the patterned PDMA layer and a suction force is applied to ensure uniformity of flow of the molten metal. A second layer comprising a flow channel orthogonal to the direction of the micro-structured electrodes is disposed under the first layer to form the microfluidic device. The device shows enhanced sensitivity to RBC detection at high frequencies that are also bio-compatible (above 2 MHz). Multiple layers of the micro-structures electrodes can be sandwiched between layers of flow channels to provide a 3D microfluidic device.

A method for producing a detection system for biomolecules in a medium involves providing a first detector section having a first channel region and a second detector section having a second channel region. A membrane having at least one pore is provided and the first detector section and the second detector section are arranged on opposite sides of the membrane, such that at least part of the first channel region and the second channel region are separated by the membrane and the first channel region and the second channel region are connected to each another to form a channel system, in order to form a flow path for the medium through the at least one pore of the membrane. Along the flow path, through the membrane, bioreceptors are bound and/or coupled to the membrane in order to determine a concentration of the biomolecules in the medium by means of a measurement of the flow along the flow path.

Compositions and methods of the present disclosure provide for staged assembly of nucleic acid microstructures made of an array of x number of polynucleotide tiles, where each of the polynucleotide tiles is a polygon configuration and is made from a single-stranded helical polynucleotide scaffold and a plurality of single-stranded polynucleotide staple strands of y number of unique staple sequences corresponding to the selected tile configuration, the y number of unique staple sequences capable of being constant for any value of x.

Provided are a method for preparing a microfluidic device, a microfluidic device and a microfluidic system. The method includes: providing a mold having a groove; injecting a liquid metal into the groove of the mold, and solidifying the liquid metal to obtain a solid metal; separating the solid metal from the mold; providing the solid metal with an electrode; providing a cladding layer on a surface of the solid metal provided with the electrode, such that the solid metal is wrapped by the cladding layer, and at least a part of the electrode extends outside the cladding layer, so as to obtain a preform; and fixing the preform in a substrate, melting the solid metal and extending at least a part of the electrode outside the substrate, to obtain the microfluidic device.

This fluid handling device has a rotary member that is rotatable around the central axis. In the rotary member, a first protruding part for pressing and closing a valve of a flow channel chip and a recessed part for opening the valve without pressing the valve are disposed on the circumference of a first circle around the central axis. The rotary member further has a second protruding part for, when the recessed part is located at the valve in a state where the rotary member is rotated, pressing the valve so as not to open the valve.