A micro-fluidic flow device and method. The device includes a conduit having an inlet and an outlet distal from the inlet. The conduit further includes a plurality of constrictions each having a reduction in a cross-sectional area of the conduit in a direction from the inlet to the outlet. The constrictions are arranged in series and the reduction in cross-sectional area at each of the constrictions is sufficient to induce extensional flow in a fluid travelling therethrough, such that the maximum strain rate in the extensional flow region is at least 500 s.sup.1.

Among others, the present invention provides apparatus for detecting a disease, comprising a system delivery biological subject and a probing and detecting device, wherein the probing and detecting device includes a first micro-device and a first substrate supporting the first micro-device, the first micro-device contacts a biologic material to be detected and is capable of measuring at the microscopic level an electric, magnetic, electromagnetic, thermal, optical, acoustical, biological, chemical, physical, or mechanical property of the biologic material.

The invention relates to a measuring device (10) for measuring physical characteristics of cells. The device (10) comprises: a microfluidic chip (20) provided with a flow channel (22) for allowing cells to flow through; a manipulator (24) configured to apply deformation force to a cell in a continuous flow; and a sensor (26) configured to sense a physical characteristic of the cell. The manipulator (24) and the sensor (26) are configured to define a width (W2) of the flow channel (22) as a gap formed between them. The manipulator (24) is configured to apply the deformation force to the cell by compressing the cell against the sensor (26).

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.

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.

System and method includes a body having a central microchannel separated by one or more porous membranes. The membranes are configured to divide the central microchannel into a two or more parallel central microchannels, wherein one or more first fluids are applied through the first central microchannel and one or more second fluids are applied through the second or more central microchannels. The surfaces of each porous membrane can be coated with cell adhesive molecules to support the attachment of cells and promote their organization into tissues on the upper and lower surface of the membrane. The pores may be large enough to only permit exchange of gases and small chemicals, or to permit migration and transchannel passage of large proteins and whole living cells. Fluid pressure, flow and channel geometry also may be varied to apply a desired mechanical force to one or both tissue layers.

A system and/or method for determining an immune activation state of a subject can include: deforming leukocytes within a microfluidic channel, acquiring a plurality of images of the leukocytes, determining biophysical parameters of the leukocyte, adjusting the biophysical parameters, and determining the immune activation state of the subject based on the biophysical parameters.

Methods and apparatus for long read, label-free, optical nanopore long chain molecule sequencing. In general, the present disclosure describes a novel sequencing technology based on the integration of nanochannels to deliver single long-chain molecules with widely spaced (>wavelength), ?1-nm aperture tortuous nanopores that slow translocation sufficiently to provide massively parallel, single base resolution using optical techniques. A novel, directed self-assembly nanofabrication scheme using simple colloidal nanoparticles is used to form the nanopore arrays atop nanochannels that unfold the long chain molecules. At the surface of the nanoparticle array, strongly localized electromagnetic fields in engineered plasmonic/polaritonic structures allow for single base resolution using optical techniques.

A technique includes forming a gradient channel with width and depth gradients. A mask is disposed on top of a substrate. The mask is patterned with at least one elongated channel pattern having different elongated channel pattern widths. A channel is etched in the substrate in a single etching step, the channel having a width gradient and a corresponding depth gradient both simultaneously etched in the single etching step according to the different elongated channel pattern widths in the mask.

The invention relates to a method for analysis of the AT/GC ratio of DNA by stretching the DNA in nanochannels and performing melting mapping of the AT/GC ratio along the DNA molecule.