The invention describes a method for the identification of compounds which bind to a target component of a biochemical system or modulate the activity of the target, comprising the steps of: a) compartmentalising the compounds into microcapsules together with the target, such that only a subset of the repertoire is represented in multiple copies in any one microcapsule; and b) identifying the compound which binds to or modulates the activity of the target; wherein at least one step is performed under microfluidic control. The invention enables the screening of large repertoires of molecules which can serve as leads for drug development.

A mixing reactor (1), the reactor comprising a body (2) having a first inlet (3), a second inlet (5) and an outlet (4), in which there is an inner passage (6) through the body (2) from the first inlet (3) at a first end (12) of the body (2) to the outlet (4) at a second end of the body (2) along a length of the body (2), the inner passage (6) having a side wall (17) along the length, and an outer passage (7) closer to a surface (14) of the body (2) than the inner passage (6), the outer passage (7) running from the second inlet (5) at the second end, travelling through the body (2) along the length and meeting the inner passage (6) at a junction (11) at the first end, the outer passage (7) joining the inner passage (6) through the side wall (17) at the junction (11). Such a mixing reactor can be used for producing particles such as nanoparticles or Metal-Organic frameworks. Furthermore, we disclose a cascade of such reactors and a method of using such reactors to mix fluids, typically but non-exclusively so as to produce such particles.

The present invention is directed to a microfluidic system comprising a microfluidic chip and a method of performing a chemical assay wherein a sample is processed into multiple daughter droplets and said daughter droplets are incubated with varying reagents. The properties of these droplets can be detected to provide assay data.

The present invention provides microfluidic technology enabling rapid and economical manipulation of reactions on the femtoliter to microliter scale.

System, including methods, apparatus, compositions, and kits, for the mixing of small volumes of fluid by coalescence of multiple emulsions.

The invention describes a method for the identification of compounds which bind to a target component of a biochemical system or modulate the activity of the target, comprising the steps of: a) compartmentalizing the compounds into microcapsules together with the target, such that only a subset of the repertoire is represented in multiple copies in any one microcapsule; and b) identifying the compound which binds to or modulates the activity of the target; wherein at least one step is performed under microfluidic control. The invention enables the screening of large repertoires of molecules which can serve as leads for drug development.

An apparatus for supporting an array of layers of amphiphilic molecules, the apparatus comprising: a body (11), formed in a surface of the body, an array of sensor wells (10) capable of supporting a layer of amphiphilic molecules (30) across the sensor wells, the sensor wells each containing an electrode (12) for connection to an electrical circuit, and formed in the surface of the body between the sensor wells, flow control wells capable of smoothing the flow of a fluid across the surface.

The present invention provides microfluidic technology enabling rapid and economical manipulation of reactions on the femtoliter to microliter scale.

A method of preparing a sample may include depositing an aqueous solution comprising copies of a primer into a layer of hydrophobic liquid on a substrate with a thermal inkjet device. A sample may include: a substrate; a layer of hydrophobic liquid on the substrate, the layer of hydrophobic liquid comprising a plurality of droplets of aqueous solution distributed in the layer, wherein the plurality of droplets contain: primers; a polymerase enzyme; deoxynucleotide triphosphates (dNTPs); and a target sequence for replication; and a cover, the cover contacting and covering the layer of hydrophobic liquid.

The invention describes a method for the identification of compounds which bind to a target component of a biochemical system or modulate the activity of the target, by compartmentalizing the compounds into microcapsules together with the target, such that only a subset of the repertoire is represented in multiple copies in any one microcapsules; and identifying the compound which binds to or modulates the activity of the target. The invention enables the screening of large repertoires of molecules which can serve as leads for drug development.