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.

A micro fluid filtration system (100) preferably for increasing the concentration of components contained in a fluid sample has a fluid circuitry (1). The fluid circuitry (1) comprises the following elements: A tangential flow filtration element (7) capable for separating the fluid sample into a retentate stream and a permeate stream upon passage of the fluid, an element for pumping (3) for creating and driving a fluid flow through the fluid circuitry (1) and at least one element for obtaining information about the properties of the fluid sample within the circuitry. The circuitry further comprises a plurality of conduits (24) connecting the elements of the fluid circuitry (1) through which a fluid stream of the fluid sample is conducted. The circuitry (1) has a minimal working volume of at most 5 ml, which is the minimal fluid volume retained in the elements and the conduits (24) of the circuitry (1) such that the fluid can be recirculated in the circuitry (1) without pumping air through the circuitry (1). An integrated microfluidic element (20) of the circuitry (1) contains the functionality of at least two elements of the group of elements of the circuitry (1).

A device for manipulating microdroplets using optically-mediated electrowetting comprising: a first composite wall comprising: a first transparent substrate; a first transparent conductor layer on the substrate having a thickness of 70 to 250 nm; a photoactive layer activated by electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength range 400-1000 nm on the conductor layer having a thickness of 300-1000 nm; and a first dielectric layer on the conductor layer having a thickness of 120-160 nm; a second composite wall comprised of: a second substrate; a second conductor layer on the substrate having a thickness of 70 to 250 nm; and an A/C source to provide a voltage across the first and second composite walls connecting the first and second conductor layers; at least one source of electromagnetic radiation having an energy higher than the bandgap of the photoexcitable layer; and means for manipulating the points of impingement of the electromagnetic radiation on the photoactive layer.

A microfluidic device can comprise at least one swept region that is fluidically connected to unswept regions. The fluidic connections between the swept region and the unswept regions can enable diffusion but substantially no flow of media between the swept region and the unswept regions. The capability of biological micro-objects to produce an analyte of interest can be assayed in such a microfluidic device. Biological micro-objects in sample material loaded into a microfluidic device can be selected for particular characteristics and disposed into unswept regions. The sample material can then be flowed out of the swept region and an assay material flowed into the swept region. Flows of medium in the swept region do not substantially affect the biological micro-objects in the unswept regions, but any analyte of interest produced by a biological micro-object can diffuse from an unswept region into the swept region, where the analyte can react with the assay material to produce a localized detectable reaction. Any such detected reactions can be analyzed to determine which, if any, of the biological micro-objects are producers of the analyte of interest.

A microfluidic chip assembly having a plurality of microfluidic flow channels is provided. Each channel has a switching region. The microfluidic chip may further include at least one surface acoustic wave generator configured to generate a pressure pulse in the switching regions of the channels to selectively deflect particles in the flow. Attenuation elements and/or channel configurations may be used to prevent acoustic signals from interfering with neighboring switching regions. Alternatively, a microfluidic particle processing system may include a microfluidic chip assembly, a particle processing instrument, and a coupling element. The surface acoustic wave generator may be provided on the particle processing instrument. The microfluidic chip assembly may be configured for operative engagement, via the coupling element, with the particle processing instrument. The coupling element may transmit acoustic energy from the surface acoustic wave generator to the switching regions and/or to focusing regions of the flow channels.

A method of manufacturing a microfluidic chip includes providing an upper mold having multiple upper ribs extending along a second direction, and a lower mold having multiple lower ribs extending along a first direction different from the second direction, forming a forming material in a filling space defined by the upper and lower molds to provide a channeled plate having multiple upper microfluidic channels complementary in shape to the upper ribs, lower microfluidic channels complementary in shape to the lower ribs, and multiple thin film valves formed at intersections where the upper microfluidic channels intersect the lower microfluidic channels, separating the upper and lower molds, and covering the lower and upper microfluidic channels.

According to one embodiment, a cell sorter includes a flow channel which supplies a sample liquid containing particles, a plurality of branch channels connected to the flow channel, an image sensor which has a pixel region covering the flow channel and the branch channels, a determination unit which determines the characteristics of the particles in the sample liquid from a measurement signal of the pixel region, and a separation unit guides the particles in the sample liquid to any of the branch channels based on the determination result of the determination unit.

A device for isolating a microbe or a virion includes a semiconductor substrate; and a trench formed in the semiconductor substrate and extending from a surface of the semiconductor substrate to a region within the semiconductor substrate; wherein the trench has dimensions such that the microbe or the virion is trapped within the trench.

An anti-clogging microfluidic multichannel device comprising a first mixing chamber comprising a first and a second end, wherein the first end comprises at least one inlet connected in fluid communication with the first mixing chamber, and at least one first capillary element comprising a first and a second end, wherein the first end of the at least one first capillary element is connected in fluid communication with the second end of the first mixing chamber, at least one septum located within the at least one first capillary element, which divides the cross section of the at least one first capillary element in a plurality of channels, wherein the at least one first capillary element comprises a reduction of section along its longitudinal axis between a section of the at least one first capillary element and the second end of the at least one first capillary element. It is also described a microfluidics system and a method of production of emulsions using said microfluidics system.

The invention describes a method for isolating one or more genetic elements encoding a gene product having a desired activity, comprising the steps of: (a) compartmentalising genetic elements into microcapsules; and (b) sorting the genetic elements which express the gene product having the desired activity; wherein at least one step is under microfluidic control. The invention enables the in vitro evolution of nucleic acids and proteins by repeated mutagenesis and iterative applications of the method of the invention.