A droplet collection unit of an embodiment includes a generator and processing circuitry. The generator produces droplets each containing a microorganism and a substrate that reacts with an enzyme derived from the microorganism. The processing circuitry detects a reaction between the enzyme and the substrate in each droplet. The processing circuitry sorts the droplets on the basis of a detection result of the reaction.

The present invention relates to a method for analyzing and selecting a specific droplet among a plurality of droplets (4), comprising the following steps: —providing a plurality of droplets (4), —for a droplet (4) among the plurality of droplets, measuring at least two optical signals, each optical signal being representative of a light intensity spatial distribution in the droplet for an associated wavelength channel, —calculating a plurality of parameters from the optical signals, —determining a sorting class for a droplet according to calculated parameters, —sorting said droplet according to its sorting class, wherein the plurality of parameters comprises the coordinates of a maximum for each optical signal and a co-localization parameter and the at least two calculated parameters used for the determining step comprises the co-localization parameter.

A microfluidic arrangement for manipulating fluids is provided. The microfluidic arrangement comprises a substrate, a first fluid and a second fluid, which is immiscible with the first fluid. The first fluid is arranged to be at least partially covered by the second fluid. The first fluid is arranged in a desired shape on an unpatterned surface of the substrate. The first fluid is retained in said shape by a fluid interface between the first and second fluids. A microfluidic arrangement comprising an array of drops is also provided. The microfluidic arrangement comprises a substrate, a first fluid and a second fluid, which is immiscible with the first fluid. The first fluid is arranged to be at least partially covered by the second fluid. The first fluid is arranged to be covered at least partially by the second fluid. The first fluid is arranged in a given array of drops on an unpatterned surface of the substrate. Each drop cross section area having a (height:width) aspect ratio of (1:2) or less. A method of fabricating a microfluidic arrangement for manipulating fluids is also provided. The method comprises arranging a first fluid on an unpatterned surface of a substrate in a desired shape. The method also comprises arranging a second fluid, which is immiscible with the first fluid, to cover the first fluid at least partially. The first fluid is retained in said shape by a fluid interface between the first and second fluids. The method also comprises drying the first fluid to form a residue in said shape on the substrate.

A solid reagent containment unit is formed by a support; a frame body fixed to the support and delimiting internally, together with the support, an analysis volume; a reagent-adhesion structure within the analysis volume; and at least one reagent cavity, which extends within the reagent-adhesion structure. The reagent-adhesion structure is of an adhesion material embossable at temperatures lower by 6-8° C. than its own melting point and has a melting point such as not to interfere with the analysis. The reagent cavity forms a retention wall, laterally surrounding the reagent cavity, and houses dried reagents. The adhesion material is chosen among wax, such as paraffin, a polymer, such as polycaprolactone, a solid fat, such as cocoa butter, and a gel, such as hydrogel or organogel.

Provided herein are microfluidic devices for analyzing samples. In one aspect, the microfluidic device includes a body structure having a droplet compression chamber, a sieve structure in fluid communication with the droplet compression chamber, which sieve structure comprises an array of protrusions that extend from at least one surface of the body structure and define at least a portion of one or more fluidic circuits, and a port at least partially disposed in the body structure. Other aspects include kits, methods, systems, computer readable media, and related aspects for analyzing samples.

A microfabricated droplet dispensing structure is described, which may include a MEMS microfluidic fluidic valve, configured to open and close a microfluidic channel. The opening and closing of the valve may separate a target biological particle containing genomic material, and a bead from a sample stream, and direct these two particle into a single droplet formed at the edge of the substrate. The droplet may then be encased in a sheath flow of an immiscible fluid, and provided to a downstream workflow.

The present disclosure provides methods and compositions for detecting polynucleotides in a sample and for quantifying polynucleotide load in a sample. The polynucleotides can be associated with a disease, disorder, or condition. In some applications, methylated DNA is quantified, e.g., in order to determine the load of polynucleotides in a sample. The present disclosure also provides methods and compositions for determining the load of fetal polynucleotides in a biological sample, e.g., the load of fetal polynucleotides (e.g., DNA, RNA) in maternal plasma. The present disclosure provides methods and compositions for detecting cellular processes such as cellular viability, growth rates, and infection rates. This disclosure also provides compositions and methods for detecting differences in copy number of a target polynucleotide. In some embodiments, the methods and compositions provided herein are useful for diagnosis of fetal genetic abnormalities, when the starting sample is maternal tissue (e.g., blood, plasma). The methods and materials described apply techniques for allowing detection of small, but statistically significant, differences in polynucleotide copy number.

In an embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to a microfluidic platform composed of a droplet generator having an entry point for donor particles and target particles, a first droplet incubation chamber in fluid communication with the droplet generator, a droplet detection functionality to allow for analysis of the inner content of droplets, and a droplet sorting functionality to allow for the separation of droplets based on the analysis of the inner content of droplets. In another embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to a method for cell-to-cell DNA, RNA, or other genetic material transfer through use of a water-in-oil emulsion microdroplet-based microfluidic platform for automation and high throughput identification or screening of genetic transfer outcomes utilizing the microfluidic platforms as disclosed herein.

Systems and methods for detection of a signal from droplets of an emulsion. An exemplary system may comprise a fluid transporter having a tube with an open end for aspirating droplets, a singulator to arrange the droplets in single file and to space the single-file droplets from one another, and a detection channel in optical communication with a detector configured to detect a signal from droplets. In some embodiments, the singulator may have a channel junction at which a stream of droplets in single file is combined with a stream of spacing fluid, and a tapered spacing channel extending downstream from the channel junction toward the detection channel. In some embodiments, the fluid transporter may suck droplet-containing fluid and spacing fluid through the detection channel from respective sources. In some embodiments, droplets may be subjected to a disaggregation routine before they are passed through the detection channel.

A microfluidic device comprises a first substrate and a second substrate, a gasket spacing the first substrate from the second substrate to define a fluid chamber between the first substrate and the second substrate, and at least one port for introducing a fluid sample into the fluid chamber. An inner edge face of the gasket defines a lateral boundary of the fluid chamber. A plurality of independently addressable array elements are provided on a surface of the first substrate facing the fluid chamber, and at least one circuit element is disposed on a surface of the second substrate facing the fluid chamber. The gasket is configured to provide a conductive path between a circuit element disposed on a surface of the second substrate facing the fluid chamber and an associated terminal.