Disclosed herein are systems and methods for serial flow emulsion processes. Systems and methods as described herein result in reduced cross-contamination.

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for serial flow emulsion processes. Systems and methods as described herein result in reduced cross-contamination.

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for serial flow emulsion processes. Systems and methods as described herein result in reduced cross-contamination.

A microfluidic device for performing physical, chemical or biological treatment to at least one packet without contamination.

The present invention is generally related to systems and methods for producing droplets. The droplets may contain varying species, e.g., for use as a library. In some cases, at least one droplet is used to create a plurality of droplets, using techniques such as flow-focusing techniques. In one set of embodiments, a plurality of droplets, containing varying species, can be divided to form a collection of droplets containing the various species therein. A collection of droplets, according to certain embodiments, may contain various subpopulations of droplets that all contain the same species therein. Such a collection of droplets may be used as a library in some cases, or may be used for other purposes.

The invention generally relates to methods for forming mixed droplets. In certain embodiments, methods of the invention involve forming a droplet, and contacting the droplet with a fluid stream, wherein a portion of the fluid stream integrates with the droplet to form a mixed droplet.

A microfluidic module for co-encapsulation in droplets of two populations of particles may include first and second modules for sorting the two populations. The modules may have their first outlets including first obstructive valves configured to at least partially obstruct the first outlets. The first outlets may be fluidly connected to a fusion module, including a fusion module means for merging at least one droplet from the first droplet population and at least one droplet from the second droplet population into a merged droplet comprising the two population of particles, and a control unit for controlling the first obstructive valves from information originating from a first and second module detection portion located upstream of the first outlets.

A magnetic digital microfluidic apparatus for manipulating a liquid droplet containing magnetic particles using a magnetic force, the apparatus comprising: a hydrophobic surface on which the liquid droplet containing magnetic particles can be moved using the magnetic force; and at least one surface energy trap provided to retain at least a portion of the liquid droplet thereon, the at least one surface energy trap comprising a layer of polydopamine. A method of magnetic digital microfluidic manipulation, the method comprising the steps of: a) contacting a liquid droplet on a hydrophobic surface with a polydopamine surface energy trap, the liquid droplet containing magnetic particles; b) retaining at least a portion of the liquid droplet on the surface energy trap; and c) moving at least the magnetic particles with a magnetic force.

Method of detecting a target nucleic acid. In an exemplary method, at least two thermal zones of different temperature may be created using a heating assembly. A first emulsion and a second emulsion may be formed. The first and second emulsions may be thermally cycled by passing them through tubing in a spaced relation to one another, with the tubing being wound around a central axis of the heating assembly and extending through each thermal zone multiple times. Thermally cycling may promote amplification of the target nucleic acid in droplets of each emulsion. Droplets of each emulsion may be passed through a detection channel located downstream of the tubing. Fluorescence may be detected from the droplets being passed through the detection channel.

The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for the control of fluids and, in some cases, to systems and methods for flowing a fluid into and/or out of other fluids. As examples, fluid may be injected into a droplet contained within a fluidic channel, or a fluid may be injected into a fluidic channel to create a droplet. In some embodiments, electrodes may be used to apply an electric field to one or more fluidic channels, e.g., proximate an intersection of at least two fluidic channels. For instance, a first fluid may be urged into and/or out of a second fluid, facilitated by the electric field. The electric field, in some cases, may disrupt an interface between a first fluid and at least one other fluid. Properties such as the volume, flow rate, etc. of a first fluid being urged into and/or out of a second fluid can be controlled by controlling various properties of the fluid and/or a fluidic droplet, for example curvature of the fluidic droplet, and/or controlling the applied electric field.