The disclosure relates to a method of culturing and analyzing at least one cell in a microchamber configured to allow for optical inspection of the at least one cell, wherein liquid is extracted from the microchamber for analysis, characterized in that the analysis returns information about particles secreted from the at least one cell and that this information can be correlated to the individual cell and/or cell population. The disclosure further relates to a device for use in the method and a system and a computer program for performing one or more of the steps of the method.

A filter film includes a through-hole and a recessed portion having a size capable of capturing one particle, in which the recessed portion is open to one face of the filter film, the through-hole in the one face has a shape or a size such that the one particle is not capable of passing through the through-hole, and the through-hole and the recessed portion are disposed close to each other.

A catcher, a capture device, and a method for capturing at least one target biological particle are provided. The catcher includes a base and a plurality of capture arms extending from the base and spaced apart from each other. Each of the capture arms has a free end portion configured to capture a target biological particle and a supporting segment connected between the free end portion and the base. The supporting segment of each of the capture arms is arranged in a projection space defined by orthogonally projecting the free end portion along a height direction onto the base. When the target biological particle is captured by two of the capture arms that are bent and arranged adjacent to each other, a part of the target biological particle is trapped by the supporting segments of the two of the capture arms and is held.

A system, configured to facilitate processing and detection of nucleic acids, the system comprising a process fluid container and a cartridge comprising: a top layer, a set of sample port-reagent port pairs, a shared fluid port, a vent region, a heating region, and a set of detection chambers; an intermediate substrate, coupled to the top layer comprising a waste chamber; an elastomeric layer, partially situated on the intermediate substrate; and a set of fluidic pathways, each formed by at least a portion of the top layer and a portion of the elastomeric layer, wherein each fluidic pathway is fluidically coupled to a sample port-reagent port pair, the shared fluid port, and a detection chamber, comprises a portion passing through the heating region, and is configured to be occluded upon deformation of the elastomeric layer, to transfer a waste fluid to the waste chamber, and to pass through the vent region.

In biosciences and related fields, it can be useful to study cells in isolation so that cells having unique and desirable properties can be identified within a heterogenous mixture of cells. Processes and methods disclosed herein provide for encapsulating cells within a microfluidic device and assaying the encapsulated cells. Encapsulation can, among other benefits, facilitate analyses of cells that generate secretions of interest which would otherwise rapidly diffuse away or mix with the secretions of other cells.

Systems and methods are provided to assist in developing a precision medicine approach using a microfluidic cell having a releasable, aqueous interfacial film to separate tissue channels. The approach can include a personalized medicine treatment plan. The systems and methods emulate cellular communication in a disease state in a more accurate aqueous environment and provide data on the interaction between the cells that can be used to develop a treatment for a subject in need. The systems and methods also can be used to assess the effect of a particular treatment, such as a drug therapy, radiation therapy, or a combination thereof, for example. The systems and methods can show how a particular therapy is affected by any of several known factors including, but not limited to, the sex of the subject, the age of the subject, hereditary factors or other genetic predispositions, as well as perhaps other physiological states of the subject, or a combination thereof.

The disclosure provides a spacing-changeable device and a method using both lateral flow and compressed open flow for assaying a liquid sample. The device includes a first plate, a second plate, and an exterior liquid sample contact area. The spacing between the two plates are changeable to form different configurations including a first and second configurations. In the first configuration, the two plates face each other and form at least two gaps including a spacing-1 and a spacing-1′. The spacing height of the spacing-1′ has a size that allows a liquid sample to flow into the spacing-1′. In the second configuration, the two plates are pressed, which changes spacing-1 and spacing-1′ to spacing-2 and spacing-2′, respectively, and the spacing-2′ has a spacing height larger than that of spacing-2. In the second configuration, the sample flows and spreads in areas of spacing-2 and spacing-2′.

The present disclosure is drawn to microfluidic cellular membrane modification devices. In one example, a microfluidic cellular membrane modification device can include a microfluidic channel including a pumping portion and an electric field portion. An electrode pair can be positioned about the electric field portion. A bidirectional pump can be in fluid communication with the microfluidic channel at the pumping portion to move fluid backward and forward through the electric field portion.

A microfluidic device comprises a cell flow layer and a control layer. The cell flow layer includes a growth channel, a collection channel, a plurality of bridge channels connecting the growth channel and the collection channel, a plurality of bridge valve portions, and a plurality of cell growth trenches coupled to the growth channel. The growth channel includes an inlet valve portion and an outlet valve portion controlling flow into and out of the growth channel. The collection channel includes an inlet valve portion and an outlet valve controlling flow into and out of the collection channel. The bridge valve portions control flow between the growth channel and the collection channel. The control layer includes a first control channel actuating the bridge valve portions and a second control channel actuating the inlet valve portions and the outlet valve portions of the growth channel and the collection channel.

Methods of selectively positioning a micro-object in a microfluidic device are described in this application. The microfluidic device can comprise an enclosure having an inlet, an outlet, and a flow region connecting the inlet and outlet, and an electrode activation substrate having a photoconductive layer. The methods of selectively positioning can comprising: projecting a first light beam on an electrode activation substrate of the microfluidic device, wherein the first position is proximal to the first micro-object, and wherein the first light beam activates a positive dielectrophoresis (DEP) force within the enclosure sufficient to capture the first micro-object; and projecting a second light beam upon a second position on the electrode activation substrate, wherein the second position is adjacent to or at least partially surrounding the first position, without overlapping the first position, the second light beam activating a positive DEP force within the enclosure sufficient to capture second micro-objects other than the first micro-object. The methods of selectively positioning can further comprise moving the first light beam towards a third position on the electrode activation substrate, wherein the DEP force activated by the first light beam is sufficient to move the first micro-object to the third position. Optionally, the methods can include moving the second light beam in relation to the first light beam to prevent micro-objects other than the first micro-object from being captured by the first light beam. Other embodiments are described.