A method for aligning sequences of droplets in streams of an emulsion comprising target droplets and tag droplets, a tag droplet comprising first and second tags. A target droplet is split into first and second target droplets and a tag droplet is split into first and second tag droplets. Each of the first and second tag droplets comprise the first and second tags. The first target droplet and first tag droplet are in a first stream of droplets, and the second target droplet and second tag droplet are in a second stream of droplets. The method detects the first tag droplets and first target droplets in the first stream and the second tag droplets and second target droplets in the second stream, determines a first sequence of droplets in the first stream and a second sequence of droplets in the second stream, and compares these to align the sequences.

A system, mixing-enhanced microfluidic container, and methods for small volume sample collection and/or analysis is disclosed. Namely, the invention is directed to a small volume sample collection system that includes a mixing-enhanced microfluidic container and a durable reusable actuation chuck. The mixing-enhanced microfluidic container is used to collect small volumes of sample fluid and includes a means for mixing the sample fluid with reagents disposed within the microfluidic container. The mixing means utilize an array of surface-attached structures (e.g., a micropost array). The application of an “actuation force,” such as a magnetic or electric field, actuates the surface-attached structures into movement, wherein the actuation chuck in close proximity to the mixing-enhanced microfluidic container provides the “actuation force.”

Certain embodiments are directed to finite step emulsification device and/or methods that combine finite step emulsification with gradients of confinement for the formation of a 2D monolayer array of droplets with low size dispersion.

Provided herein, among other aspects, are methods and apparatuses for analyzing particles in a sample. In some aspects, the particles can be analytes, cells, nucleic acids, or proteins and can be contacted with a tag, partitioned into aliquots, detected by a ranking device, and isolated. The methods and apparatuses provided herein may include a microfluidic chip. In some aspects, the methods and apparatuses may be used to quantify rare particles in a sample, such as cancer cells and other rare cells for disease diagnosis, prognosis, or treatment.

A microfluidic system for fluid transport is provided. The microfluidic system includes a microfluidic device. The microfluidic device includes an inlet body including an inlet. The microfluidic device includes a base supporting the inlet body. The base includes a channel in fluid communication with the inlet. The base includes one or more sensors formed on a surface of the channel, or one or more sensors formed in one or more wells formed in the surface of the channel. The channel is configured to facilitate flow of the fluid. The fluid includes a plurality of beads. The fluid includes a plurality of suspended cells. The inlet is configured to receive the fluid at an inlet port. The inlet is configured to output the fluid through an opening in fluid communication with the channel. The inlet is configured to provide substantially uniform flow of the fluid across a substantial portion of a horizontal dimension of the channel. The device is configured to compensate for edge effects otherwise present therein. Related methods, apparatuses, systems, techniques and articles are also described.

The invention describes a method for the synthesis of compounds comprising the steps of: (a) compartmentalising two or more sets of primary compounds into microcapsules; such that a proportion of the microcapsules contains two or more compounds; and (b) forming secondary compounds in the microcapsules by chemical reactions between primary compounds from different sets; wherein one or both of steps (a) and (b) is performed under microfluidic control; preferably electronic microfluidic control, The invention further allows for the identification of compounds which bind to a target component of a biochemical system or modulate the activity of the target, and which is co-compartmentalised into the microcapsules.

A microfluidic droplet generator that includes a body, an inlet arranged adjacent an upper surface of the body, and a sample reservoir adapted to contain a reservoir fluid that is immiscible in water. The sample reservoir includes a floor and a sidewall coupled to the floor. The floor extends along a horizontal axis and the sidewall extends along a vertical axis substantially perpendicular to the horizontal axis. The microfluidic droplet generator also includes one or more microchannels fluidly connecting the inlet to the sample reservoir. Each of the microchannels includes an inlet end and a reservoir end, and the reservoir end of each of the microchannels intersects the sidewall of the sample reservoir at a location beneath the upper surface of the body.

Disclosed herein is a system to detect and characterize individual particles and cells using at least either optic or electric detection as the particle or cell flows through a microfluidic channel. The system also provides for sorting particles and cells or isolating individual particles and cells.

Systems and methods for improved flow properties in fluidic and microfluidic systems are disclosed. The system includes a microfluidic device having a first microchannel, a fluid reservoir having a working fluid and a pressurized gas, a pump in communication with the fluid reservoir to maintain a desired pressure of the pressurized gas, and a fluid-resistance element located within a fluid path between the fluid reservoir and the first microchannel. The fluid-resistance element includes a first fluidic resistance that is substantially larger than a second fluidic resistance associated with the first microchannel.

The present disclosure provides microfluidic flow channel structure, detection system and method for using detection system, aiming at improving uniformity of liquid introduction of microfluidic detection system. Microfluidic flow channel structure includes liquid inlet section (1), main chamber (3) and liquid outlet section (2), main chamber (3) includes liquid inlet end (31), chamber middle part (33) and liquid outlet end (32); liquid inlet section (1), liquid inlet end (31), chamber middle part (33), liquid outlet end (32) and liquid outlet section (2) are sequentially connected together; width of liquid inlet end (31) is gradually increased in direction from liquid inlet section (1) to chamber middle part (33); thinning flow guidance region (310) is provided at edge of liquid inlet end (31) formed as width of liquid inlet end varies, and has thickness less than that of remaining region except thinning flow guidance region (310) of main chamber (3).