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 activity frame comprising a first or outer ring mounted between a pair of opposed bearings in a opposed pair of supports, for example upstanding members of a frame, the first bearings having a having a first common axis; a second or middle ring mounted between opposed bearings on the first ring, the bearings having a second common axis orthogonal to the first common axis; a third or inner ring mounted between opposed bearings on the second ring, the bearings having a third common axis orthogonal to the second axis provided with demountable restraining means to limit the movement of two or more of the rings and demountable bars to fix one or more of the rings to the frame or other fixed object.

A device and a method for isolating a target from a biological sample are provided. The target is bound to solid phase substrate to form target bound solid phase substrate. The device includes a lower plate with an upper surface having a plurality of regions. The biological sample is receivable on a first of the regions. An upper plate has a lower surface directed to the upper surface of the lower plate. A force is positioned adjacent the upper plate and attracts the target bound solid phase substrate toward the lower surface of the upper plate. At least one of the upper plate and the lower plate is movable from a first position wherein the target bound solid phase substrate in the biological sample are drawn to the lower surface of the upper plate and a second position wherein the target bound solid phase substrate are isolated from the biological sample.

In accordance with embodiments herein a method for capturing cells of interest in a digital microfluidic system is provided, comprising utilizing a droplet actuator to transport a sample droplet to a microwell device. The microwell device includes a substrate having a plurality of microwells that open onto a droplet operations surface of the microwell device. The sample droplet includes cells of interest that enter the microwells. The method introduces capture beads to the microwells, and the capture elements are immobilized on the capture beads. The method utilizes the droplet actuator to transport a cell lysis reagent droplet to the microwell device. Portions of the cell lysis reagent droplet enter the microwells and, during an incubation period, cause the cells of interest to release analyte that is captured by the capture elements on the capture beads.

In accordance with embodiments herein a method for capturing cells of interest in a digital microfluidic system is provided, comprising utilizing a droplet actuator to transport a sample droplet to a microwell device. The microwell device includes a substrate having a plurality of microwells that open onto a droplet operations surface of the microwell device. The sample droplet includes cells of interest that enter the microwells. The method introduces capture beads to the microwells, and the capture elements are immobilized on the capture beads. The method utilizes the droplet actuator to transport a cell lysis reagent droplet to the microwell device. Portions of the cell lysis reagent droplet enter the microwells and, during an incubation period, cause the cells of interest to release analyte that is captured by the capture elements on the capture beads.

The disclosure relates to manufacturing a microfluidic arrangement wherein a second liquid (2) such as fluorinated oil is provided in direct contact with a continuous body of a first liquid (1) such as an aqueous cell culture medium and covering the first pot liquid. The second liquid is caused to move through the first liquid and into contact with a substrate (11) along all of a selected path to displace first liquid. The selected path is such that one or more walls of second liquid are formed that modify a shape of the continuous body of first liquid. The first liquid is aqueous. The second liquid is immiscible with the first liquid. The second liquid is treated in a liquid treatment apparatus (50), prior to the second liquid being caused to move through the first liquid, by flowing a gas through the second liquid and thereby increasing a level of saturation of the second liquid.

A micro-droplet plate including at least one fixed element which is a rigid flat support which has an upper face and a lower face, having, on said upper face, wells connected together by microchannels, said wells being delimited by a hydrophobic rim and crossed by a hole, where said wells and said microchannels define at least one microfluidic circuit; and moving elements, received in said wells through said holes, which are cylinders having an upper base and a lower base. The moving elements move, even independently of each other, along their vertical axis, and the upper base of said moving elements includes a hydrophilic surface with relief items.

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.

An example of a flow cell includes a substrate, which includes nano-depressions defined in a surface of the substrate, and interstitial regions separating the nano-depressions. A hydrophobic material layer has a surface that is at least substantially co-planar with the interstitial regions and is positioned to define a hydrophobic barrier around respective sub-sets of the nano-depressions.

A collecting apparatus for bacteria includes: a laser beam source configured to emit a laser beam; and a container configured to hold a dispersion liquid in which a plurality of bacteria are dispersed. The container has a bottom surface and an inner side surface. A thin film for converting the laser beam from the laser beam source into heat is formed on the bottom surface. At the inner side surface, immersion wetting occurs by the dispersion liquid when the inner side surface comes into contact with the dispersion liquid. The thin film is configured to produce a thermal convection in the dispersion liquid by heating the dispersion liquid. The inner side surface is configured to produce a Marangoni convection at a gas-liquid interface as an interface between the dispersion liquid and gas around the dispersion liquid.