There are provided methods, and devices for assaying for a binding interaction between a protein, such as a monoclonal antibody, produced by a cell, and a biomolecule. The method may include retaining the cell within a chamber having an aperture; exposing the protein produced by the cell to a capture substrate, wherein the capture substrate is in fluid communication with the protein produced by the cell and wherein the capture substrate is operable to bind the protein produced by the cell; flowing a fluid volume comprising the biomolecule through the chamber via said aperture, wherein the fluid volume is in fluid communication with the capture substrate; and determining a binding interaction between the protein produced by the cell and the biomolecule.

There are provided methods, and devices for assaying for a binding interaction between a protein, such as a monoclonal antibody, produced by a cell, and a biomolecule. The method may include retaining the cell within a chamber having an aperture; exposing the protein produced by the cell to a capture substrate, wherein the capture substrate is in fluid communication with the protein produced by the cell and wherein the capture substrate is operable to bind the protein produced by the cell; flowing a fluid volume comprising the biomolecule through the chamber via said aperture, wherein the fluid volume is in fluid communication with the capture substrate; and determining a binding interaction between the protein produced by the cell and the biomolecule.

The invention relates to methods and compositions useful for routing and tracking multiple mobile units within a microfluidic device. Mobile units may be routed through a plurality of chemical environments, and the mobile units may be tracked to determine the path and/or environments that the mobile units have routed through. Mobile units may be routed in accordance with a predetermined algorithm. Mobile units may be routed through microfluidic devices in ordered flow. Absolute or relative position of a unit inside a microfluidic device, e.g. within an ordered set of units, may be used to identify the routing path history of the unit.

Various methods, devices, and systems for determining the concentration of microorganisms in a sample and determining the susceptibility of such microorganisms to one or more antibiotics or other types of anti-infectives are disclosed herein. More specifically, methods for quantifying microorganisms based on redox reactions are disclosed along with systems and devices for quantifying such microorganisms using certain oxidation reduction potential (ORP) sensors. Moreover, methods for determining the susceptibility and the degree of susceptibility of microorganisms to one or more anti-infectives are disclosed along with multiplex systems for such assays.

The combined value of integrating optical forces and electrokinetics allows for the pooled separation vectors of each to be applied, providing for separation based on combinations of features such as size, shape, refractive index, charge, charge distribution, charge mobility, permittivity, and deformability. The interplay of these separation vectors allow for the selective manipulation of analytes with a finer degree of variation. Embodiments include methods of method of separating particles in a microfluidic channel using a device comprising a microfluidic channel, a source of laser light focused by an optic into the microfluidic channel, and a source of electrical field operationally connected to the microfluidic channel via electrodes so that the laser light and the electrical field to act jointly on the particles in the microfluidic channel. Other devices and methods are disclosed.

A particle separation apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present invention, may comprise: a first input flow path into which a first fluid containing a plurality of particles of different sizes is introduced; a second input flow path into which a second fluid not containing particles is introduced; a connection flow path and the second input flow path so that a third fluid in which the first fluid and the second fluid are mixed movies; a plurality of discharge flow paths where the plurality of particles which come out through the other end of the connection flow path are separated and discharged according to the size of the particles; and a branch flow path where at least a part of the third fluid which comes out through the other end of the connection flow path is discharged.

Methods and devices for concentrating target cells using dielectrophoresis (DEP) are disclosed. The method allows relatively high throughput of sample through a microfluidic device in order to allow rapid capture of target cells even when they are present in low concentrations within the sample. The method utilizes multiple chambers through which samples will flow, the chambers arranged such that the first capture area has a larger area and faster flow rate than a second chamber, the second chamber being positioned downstream of the first capture area and being smaller with a slower flow rate to further concentrate the material captured in the first capture area.

A distributor is described for distributing a fluid flow from a smaller to a more broad fluid flow. It comprises a fluid input and a plurality of fluid outputs, and a channel structure in between the fluid input and the plurality of fluid outputs. The channel structure comprises alternatingly bifurcating channel substructures and common channel substructures wherein the substructures are arranged so that fluid exiting different channels from a bifurcating channel substructure mixes in a subsequent common channel substructure, and whereby fluid channels of the bifurcating channel substructure are arranged such that these do not contact the subsequent common channel substructure at the edges thereof.

The invention describes a method for the identification of compounds which bind to a target component of a biochemical system or modulate the activity of the target, comprising the steps of: a) compartmentalising the compounds into microcapsules together with the target, such that only a subset of the repertoire is represented in multiple copies in any one microcapsule; and b) identifying the compound which binds to or modulates the activity of the target; wherein at least one step is performed under microfluidic control. The invention enables the screening of large repertoires of molecules which can serve as leads for drug development.

In situ-generated microfluidic capture structures incorporating a solidified polymer network, methods of preparation and use, compositions and kits therefor are described. Microfluidic capture structures may be advantageously used for assays performed within the microfluidic environment, providing flexibility in assaying micro-objects such as biological cells. Assay reagents and analytes may be incorporated within the microfluidic capture structures.