A method comprises magnetically holding a bead carrying biological material (e.g., nucleic acid, which may be in the form of DNA fragments or amplified DNA) in a specific location of a substrate, and applying an electric field local to the bead to isolate the biological material or products or byproducts of reactions of the biological material. For example, the bead isolated from other beads having associated biological material. The electric field in various embodiments concentrates reagents for an amplification or sequencing reaction, and/or concentrates and isolates detectable reaction by-products. For example, by isolating nucleic acids around individual beads, the electric field can allow for clonal amplification, as an alternative to emulsion PCR. In other embodiments, the electric field isolates a nanosensor proximate to the bead, to facilitate detection of at least one of local pH change, local conductivity change, local charge concentration change and local heat. The beads may be trapped in the form of an array of localized magnetic field regions.

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for high efficiency electronic sequencing of nucleic acids and molecular detection. In an example embodiment of the instant disclosure, the NanoNeedle may be utilized to detect a change in impedance resulting from the modulation of the counter ion concentration or Debye length associated with a biomolecule of interest, such as DNA or protein, for an application of interest, such as DNA sequencing, DNA hybridization, or protein detection.

Devices and methods for performing dielectrophoresis are described. The devices contain sample channel which is separated by physical barriers from electrode channels which receive electrodes. The devices and methods may be used for the separation and analysis of particles in solution, including the separation and isolation of cells of a specific type. As the electrodes do not make contact with the sample, electrode fouling is avoided and sample integrity is better maintained.

A microfluidic device for separating liquid from the same liquid containing deformable particles without external sources of energy. The device includes: at least one transport channel (1) using various fluid-hydrodynamic principles in order to increase the amount of separated/obtained fluid; and at least one separating area (2) which diverts part of the fluid circulating through the transport channel towards at least one collection channel (3) or reaction chamber. The separating area (2) can include at least one array of pillars, the configuration of which maximizes the amount of fluid extracted at once. The depth and width of the collection channel (3) are adaptable according to the requirements of the test to be implemented. A filter is provided for separating plasma from a drop of blood in a highly efficient manner, which can be used in point-of-care testing systems.

A working fluid filtration and separation system that removes contaminants from a working fluid of a working machine. The system includes a vessel and an electrostatic collector mounted within the vessel which electrostatically removes contaminants from contaminated working fluid as it passes through the electrostatic collector element. The electrostatic collector element includes a plurality of concentric electrodes of different radii, a plurality of corrugated walls residing in spaces located between adjacent electrodes. An elongated center post electrode is provided that induces a voltage in at least one of the plurality of concentric electrodes. The system is configured to generate a voltage difference between each pair of adjacent concentric electrodes to electrostatically remove contaminants from the working fluid as it flows through the filtration and separation system. The system further includes a center post isolator that is configured to mount the center post isolator within the vessel and electrically insulate the center post electrode from the vessel.

An inverted microwell provides rapid and efficient microanalysis system and method for screening of biological particles, particularly functional analysis of cells on a single cell basis. The use of an inverted open microwell system permits identification of particles, cells, and biomolecules that may be combined to produce a desired functional effect also functional screening of secreted antibody therapeutic activity as well as the potential to recover cells and fluid, and optionally expand cells, such as antibody secreting cells, within the same microwell.

An inverted microwell provides rapid and efficient microanalysis system and method for screening of biological particles, particularly functional analysis of cells on a single cell basis. The use of an inverted open microwell system permits identification of particles, cells, and biomolecules that may be combined to produce a desired functional effect also functional screening of secreted antibody therapeutic activity as well as the potential to recover cells and fluid, and optionally expand cells, such as antibody secreting cells, within the same microwell.

A light source module for microparticles sorting performed in a light-induced dielectrophoresis chip is provided, which includes a light emitting element, a control unit and a light converting unit. The light emitting element is configured to generate and emit light. The control unit is configured to generate a driving signal based on image data. The Light converting unit is coupled to the control unit, and is configured to convert the light into a light pattern based on the driving signal. A luminous exitance of the light converting unit is between 910.sup.4 lux and 1.2 10.sup.5 lux.

A dielectrophoretic separator has a separator vessel having a fluid ingress at a first side and a fluid egress at a second side, an electrode electrically connected to a power source and contained within the vessel, along the central axis, a plurality of high permittivity dielectric rods within the vessel positioned around and parallel to the electrode, wherein the electrode has a first polarity and the vessel has a second polarity such that an electromagnetic field is generated between the electrode and the vessel.

A method of performing a separation cycle has the steps of: i) powering up an electrode within a vessel such that the electrode and vessel have an opposite polarity, wherein a plurality of high permittivity dielectric rods are contained within the vessel, ii) the fluid passing through channels between the rods, iii) the solid particles within the fluid being retained against the rods by electrical field(s).

Systems & methods for sorting single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) using an iDEP-based sorting device. The device includes an inlet channel with a constriction and the inlet channel splits into multiple different channels after the constrictionthe multiple channels includes a center channel and at least one side channel. A sample is introduced into the iDEP sorting device containing a plurality of SWNTs of different lengths suspended in a fluid. An electrical field is applied to the sample between a first electrode in the center channel and a second electrodes at a proximal end of the inlet channel. The applied electrical field causes longer SWNTs to move towards the side channels while the shorter SWNTs move towards the center channel. Accordingly, a first plurality of shorter SWNTs is then collected from the center channel and a second plurality of longer SWNTs is collected from the at least one side channel.