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.

A microfluidic electroporation device for exogenous molecules transfection is disclosed. The microfluidic electroporation device includes an electroporation chamber assembly, an ultrasound vibrator, and a controller. The electroporation chamber assembly includes an input chamber for exogenous molecules, a MEMS filter, an activation chamber and a MEMS plate. The MEMS plate holds cells within individual cavity for electroporation. Both the MEMS filter and the MEMS plate are made of semiconductor process by wet etching and/or ICP dry etching with V-shaped cavities. The top surfaces of the MEMS filter and the MEMS plate are coated with metal layer for applying electric field during the electroporation process. The electroporation chamber assembly is attached to an ultrasound vibrator which is operated intermittently to allow cells to be fixed in the cavity of the MEMS plate during electroporation process and popped out for collection after electroporation process.

Methods of forming a chip with fluidic channels include forming (e.g., milling) at least one nanofunnel with a wide end and a narrow end into a planar substrate, the nanofunnel having a length, with width and depth dimensions that both vary over its length and forming (e.g., milling) at least one nanochannel into the planar substrate at an interface adjacent the narrow end of the nanofunnel.

The present invention provides a method for detecting a disease at a very low concentration of diseased biological subject by contacting the diseased biological subject with a micro-device which comprises: a first sorting unit capable of directly detecting an intrinsic property of the biological subject at the microscopic level and sorting the biological subject by the detected intrinsic property; a first detection unit capable of detecting the same or different property of the sorted biological subject at the microscopic level; and a first layer of material having an exterior surface and an interior surface, wherein the interior surface defines a first channel in which the biological subject flows through the first sorting unit, and then the sorted biological subject flows from the first sorting unit to the first detection unit.

A DNA sequencing device, and related method, which include an electrode and a plurality of spaced apart alignment structures. The electrode defines an electrode gap, the electrode being operable to detect a change in tunneling current as a DNA strand passes through the electrode gap. The plurality of spaced apart alignment structures are arranged to position nucleotides of the DNA strand in a predetermined orientation as the DNA strand passes through the electrode gap.

The present invention provides methods and apparatus that can manipulate, detect, and/or analyze single molecules, single small particles or single small samples of matter passing through a nanoscale gap within a nanofluidic channel of a detector.

Apparatus and methods to a DNA sequencing device and related methods that includes a substrate, a nanochannel formed in the substrate, a first electrode, a second electrode arranged opposite the first electrode, a distance between the first and second electrodes defining an electrode gap that is exposed within the nanochannel, and at least one actuator operable to move at least one of the first and second electrodes to adjust a size of the electrode gap.

A microfluidic device for separating liquid from the same liquid containing deformable particles without external sources of energy. The device includes: at least one transport channel (1) using various fluid-hydrodynamic principles in order to increase the amount of separated/obtained fluid; and at least one separating area (2) which diverts part of the fluid circulating through the transport channel towards at least one collection channel (3) or reaction chamber. The separating area (2) can include at least one array of pillars, the configuration of which maximizes the amount of fluid extracted at once. The depth and width of the collection channel (3) are adaptable according to the requirements of the test to be implemented. A filter is provided for separating plasma from a drop of blood in a highly efficient manner, which can be used in point-of-care testing systems.

A system for molecular mapping includes a semiconductor substrate defining a reservoir to receive a sample of molecules and a nanofluidic channel in fluid communication with the reservoir. The system also includes a plurality of electrodes, in electrical communication with the nanofluidic channel, to electrophoretically trap the sample of molecules in the nanofluidic channel. At least one avalanche photodiode is fabricated in the semiconductor substrate and disposed within an optical near-field of the nanofluidic channel to detect fluorescence emission from at least one molecule in the sample of molecules.

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