The present application discloses a plurality of embodiments and associated inventions, with respect to microfluidic systems for at least one of identifying, imaging, orientating, and sorting particles, in particular, biological cells, and more particularly, X and Y sperm cells. In some embodiments, a module system with functional connectors is provided, each module being connected by a connector that can provide additional functionality aside from enabling fluid flow between modules. The present disclosure also is directed to microfluidic systems which include particle delivery tubes configured to orient particles (e.g., X and Y sperm cells), as well as microfluidic systems for generating a static, spatial patterns within the microfluidic channel.

The present invention relates to a substrate for nucleic acid amplification, and a method for manufacturing same, the substrate for rapid and accurate PCR analysis comprising: a transparent substrate; a micro-patterned metal layer formed on the transparent substrate; an N-heterocyclic carbene compound having one end annealed to the surface of the micro-patterned metal layer; and a primer immobilized on the other end of the N-heterocyclic carbene compound.

A system for characterization and counting of molecules and/or polymers includes: a base substrate; an electrode layer configured to route one or more electrodes for applying; a chip 130 coupled to the electrode layer and configured to mate with a recessed portion of the base substrate; a sealing layer positioned adjacent to the electrode layer; a second substrate positioned adjacent to the sealing layer; and a set of fasteners coupling the second substrate, the sealing layer, the electrode layer, the chip, and the base substrate together as an assembly. Embodiments of the system can be used for molecular quantification, sizing, and characterization of DNA, RNA, and polymers, as well as characterization of macromolecular interactions (e.g., DNA-protein interactions, RNA-protein interactions, protein-protein interactions). Methods of manufacturing and applications of the system are also described.

The present invention relates to a microfluidic device for extracting and isolating DNA from cells. The device includes a support having an inlet port for receiving a sample containing a cell, an outlet port for dispensing DNA isolated from the cell, and a microfluidic channel disposed within the support and extending from the inlet port to the outlet port. The microfluidic channel includes a micropillar array, an inflow channel disposed between the inlet port and the micropillar array, and an outflow channel disposed between the micropillar array and the outlet port. The micropillar array includes micropillars spatially configured to entrap, by size exclusion, the cell, to immobilize DNA released from the cell, and to maintain the immobilized DNA in elongated or non-elongated form when hydrodynamic force is applied to the microfluidic channel. Systems and methods of making and using the device are also provided herein.

The present invention relates to, inter alia, a microfluidic device for capturing target cells and analyzing genomic DNA isolated from the target cells while under flow conditions. The microfluidic device includes a cell microchannel and a nucleic acid microchannel that intersect in an orthogonal manner, thereby forming a cell capture intersection region. The microfluidic device also includes a cell capture array and a nucleic acid entanglement array. The cell capture array includes a plurality of cell capturing micropillars and is located in the cell capture intersection region. The nucleic acid entanglement array includes a plurality of nucleic acid entanglement micropillars that function to physically entangle and maintain thereon genomic DNA isolated from the one or more target cell, and is located in a portion of the nucleic acid microchannel that is adjacent to and downstream of the cell capture intersection region. Methods of using the microfluidic device are also disclosed.

The present disclosure relates to devices and methods for the detection and/or sorting of nucleic acids. Further disclosed are methods for device fabrication.

The present invention relates to a substrate for nucleic acid amplification, and a method for manufacturing same, the substrate for rapid and accurate PCR analysis comprising: a transparent substrate; a metal layer formed on the transparent substrate; an N-heterocyclic carbene compound having one end annealed to the surface of the metal layer; and a primer immobilized on the other end of the N-heterocyclic carbene compound.

A method and a device for determining a nucleotide sequence are proposed. The method comprises immobilising looped fragments of a nucleic acid and a polymerase on a sensor surface and adding a mixture of unlabelled nucleotides onto the sensor surface. Moreover, in the mixture added, one nucleotide type is present at a much lower concentration compared to the other nucleotides. Time intervals between each of the charge separation events are determined and the mixture addition and the registration steps are repeated. Moreover, at each repetition, the nucleotide type present at a much lower concentration compared to the other nucleotides in the mixture added is changed. The nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid molecule is determined by the analysis of the time intervals between each of the charge separation events registered, which result from the insertion, facilitated by the polymerase, of said unlabelled nucleotides into the growing nucleic acid chain. The device comprises a matrix having a plurality of sensor cells, and a digital-analog circuit, a microfluidic apparatus for feeding working solutions to the sensors, and data processing and display means.

Techniques regarding integrated purification-detection devices for detecting one or more biomarkers are provided. For example, one or more embodiments described herein are directed to an apparatus, comprising a housing and a microfluidic chip contained within the housing. The microfluidic chip comprises a separation unit that separates, using one or more nano deterministic lateral displacement (nanoDLD) arrays, target biological entities having a defined size range from other biological entities included in a biological fluid sample. The microfluidic chip further comprises a detection unit that facilitates detecting presence of one or more biomarkers associated with the target biological entities using one or more detection molecules or macromolecules that chemically reacts with the one or more biomarkers.

Techniques regarding integrated purification-detection devices for detecting one or more biomarkers are provided. For example, one or more embodiments described herein are directed to an apparatus, comprising a housing and a microfluidic chip contained within the housing. The microfluidic chip comprises a separation unit that separates, using one or more nano deterministic lateral displacement (nanoDLD) arrays, target biological entities having a defined size range from other biological entities included in a biological fluid sample. The microfluidic chip further comprises a detection unit that facilitates detecting presence of one or more biomarkers associated with the target biological entities using one or more detection molecules or macromolecules that chemically reacts with the one or more biomarkers.