A molecular nanotag is disclosed that includes a core nanoparticle with a diameter of less than about 100 nm, with an optional shell surrounding the core, and an armor bound to the surface of the core nanoparticle, or if present, to the surface of the shell. The molecular nanotag also includes a functionalized end with a fixed number of binding sites that can selectively bind to a molecular targeting ligand. Any one of, or any combination of, the core, the shell and the armor contribute to fluorescence, light scattering and/or ligand binding properties of the molecular tag that are detectable by microscopy or in a devices that measures intensity or power of fluorescence and light scattering. The light scattering intensity or power of the assembled structure is detectable above the specific level of the reference noise of a device detecting the light scattering intensity or power, its fluorescence intensity or power has sufficient brightness for detection above the limit of detection for the instrument, and ligand specificity is conferred by the ligand binding component. Methods of biomarker and biosignature detection using the molecular tags are also disclosed.

Deterioration of optical characteristics is suppressed. An optical measurement device according to an embodiment includes: an excitation light source (101 to 103) that emits excitation light having a wavelength of at least 450 nanometers or less; a lens structure (116) that condenses the excitation light at a predetermined position; a fluorescence detection system (140) that detects fluorescence emitted from a particle by excitation of the particle present at the predetermined position by the excitation light; and a scattered light detection system (130) that detects scattered light generated by the excitation light being scattered by the particle present at the predetermined position, and the lens structure includes a plurality of lenses (21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 28) arranged along an optical axis of the excitation light and a lens frame (10) that holds the plurality of lenses, and a position of at least one of the plurality of lenses in the lens frame is determined by abutting on a lens adjacent to the lens.

Aspects of the present disclosure include a particle sorting module having an opening that is configured for visualizing droplets of a deflected flow stream. Particle sorting modules according to certain embodiments include a housing having a proximal end, a distal end and a wall therebetween having an opening positioned in the wall that is configured for aligning the flow stream with one or more sample containers at the distal end. Systems and methods for aligning a flow stream with one or more sample containers and sorting particles of a sample (e.g., a biological sample) are also provided. Kits having one or more of the particle sorting modules suitable for coupling with a particle sorting system and for practicing the subject methods are also described.

Provided is a new method for more efficiently generating emulsion particles each containing one fine particle.

The present technology provides a method of collecting fine particles, in which in a fine particle sorting mechanism having a channel structure including a main channel through which the fine particles flow, a collection channel into which particles to be collected are collected from among the fine particles, a connection channel that connects the main channel and the collection channel, and a liquid supply channel connected to the connection channel so as to supply a liquid, the method includes: a flow step of causing a first liquid containing the fine particles to flow through the main channel; a determination step of determining whether or not the fine particles flowing through the main channel are the particles to be collected; and a collection step of collecting the particles to be collected into the collection channel, and, in the collection step, the particles to be collected are collected into a second liquid that is immiscible with the first liquid in the collection channel while being contained in the first liquid.

Photodetector clamps are provided. Clamps of interest include one or more flexure arms for applying an immobilizing force to one or more photodetectors positioned within a light detection module, and are configured to be positioned on top of a detector block. In embodiments, the bottom of the one or more flexure arms include an opening for contacting the photodetector(s). Light detection modules, systems and methods employing the subject clamps are also provided.

The present invention relates to the field of microfluidics and in particular to devices and methods for sorting objects in microfluidic channels. These devices and methods allow for fast and robust sorting in two-way and multi-way setups. They also enable sorting over extended periods of time.

To provide a technology of optimizing a suction condition of a microparticle. The present technology provides an optimizing method of a suction condition of a microparticle including: a particle number counting step of detecting a time point when a microparticle passes through a predetermined position on a main flow path through which liquid containing the microparticle flows, sucking the microparticle from the main flow path to a microparticle suction flow path by the microparticle suction flow path with a predetermined suction force, and counting the number of microparticles sucked into the microparticle suction flow path; and a step of determining an elapsed time from passage through the predetermined position with which the suction by the microparticle suction flow path should be performed on the basis of a time from the time point when the microparticle passes through the predetermined position on the main flow path until the suction is performed and the number of counted microparticles.

The present disclosure is related to a method of producing a microfluidic sorting apparatus. The method includes providing an injection-molded substrate comprising a network of channels; bonding an insulating film to an upper surface of the substrate to cover the network of channels; and depositing a conductive film on the insulating film. The substrate can be separated from the conductive film.

Methods of classifying flow cytometer data are provided. Methods of interest include receiving a first gate and flow cytometer data, expanding the first gate to generate a second gate, and determining sets of flow cytometer data encompassed by each of the first gate and the second gate to classify the flow cytometer data. In embodiments, methods also involve recording a subset of the classified flow cytometer data and optionally adjusting the first and/or second gates based on the recorded data. In some cases, the subject methods include sorting particles associated with the classified flow cytometer data based on the first and second gates. Systems and computer-readable storage media for practicing the invention are also provided.

An electronically-controlled digital ferrofluidic device is disclosed which employs a network of individually addressable coils in conjunction with one or more movable permanent magnets, where each moveable permanent magnet delivers the designated fluid manipulation-based tasks. The underlying mechanism facilitating fluidic operations is realized by addressable electromagnetic actuation of miniaturized mobile magnets that exert localized magnetic body forces on droplets filled with magnetic nanoparticles. The reconfigurable, contactless, and non-interfering magnetic-field operation properties of the underlying actuation mechanism allow for the integration of passive and active components to implement advanced and diverse operations with high efficiency (e.g., droplet sorting, dispensing, generation, merging, mixing, filtering, and analysis).