An assay device as well as a method of use thereof is described. The assay device includes a planar substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface. The assay device further includes one or more flow channels disposed within the planar substrate and extending along a dimension of the planar substrate between the top surface and the bottom surface. The assay device further includes an inlet fluidly coupled to the one or more flow channels and one or more vents fluidly coupled to the one or more channels which are operable to facilitate flow of a liquid sample, such as whole blood through the one or more channels. The one or more flow channels are configured to receive a liquid sample from the inlet and allow flow of the liquid sample.

A variety of devices, systems, kits, and methods are provided for separating or enriching circulating tumor cells in a biological sample such as whole blood. In some aspects, the devices are multi-stage devices including at least a filtering stage, and two separation stages for ferrohydrodynamic separation of magnetically labelled white blood cells and for marker-independent and size-independent focusing of magnetically labeled particles so as to separate or enrich unlabeled rare cells in the biological sample. The devices and methods are, in some aspects, capable of high throughput in excess of 6 milliliters per hour while achieving high separation (>97%) of the unlabeled rare cells.

A method for separating cells in a biofluid includes pretreating the biofluid by introducing an additive comprising a cell activator, flowing the pretreated biofluid through a microfluidic separation channel, and applying acoustic energy to the microfluidic separation channel to accumulate target cells in a primary stream and non-target cells in a secondary stream. A system for microfluidic cell separation capable of separating target cells from non-target cells in a biofluid includes at least one microfluidic separation channel, a source of biofluid, a source of additive comprising a cell activator, and at least one acoustic transducer coupled to the microfluidic separation channel.

An example device includes a first microfluidic channel in communication with a fluid reservoir to receive cell-containing fluid from the fluid reservoir. The device further includes a second microfluidic channel in communication with the fluid reservoir to receive cell-containing fluid from the fluid reservoir. The device further includes a first sensor disposed at the first microfluidic channel, a second sensor disposed at the second microfluidic channel, a first dispense nozzle disposed at an end of the first microfluidic channel, and a second dispense nozzle disposed at an end of the second microfluidic channel. The first microfluidic channel is shaped to convey cells of a first size range, and the second microfluidic channel is shaped to convey cells of a second size range that is different from the first size range.

Methods, devices, and systems for performing isoelectric focusing reactions are described. The systems or devices disclosed herein may comprise fixtures that have a membrane. In some instances, the disclosed devices may be designed to perform isoelectric focusing or other separation reactions followed by further characterization of the separated analytes using mass spectrometry. The disclosed methods, devices, and systems provide for fast, accurate separation and characterization of protein analyte mixtures or other biological molecules by isoelectric point.

A lab-on-a-chip cartridge includes a housing defining four separate chambers. A fluid (such as whole blood) flows through one of the chambers and into another one of the chambers, which includes a filter membrane. The filter membrane is rotated to separate a first fluid component (such as plasma) from a second fluid component (such as red blood cells), with the first fluid component passing through the filter membrane and the second fluid component not passing through the filter membrane. The separated first and second fluid components each flow into a different one of the remaining chambers, with the first fluid component contacting a lab-on-a-chip device for analyzing the first fluid component.

A plasmon resonance system, instrument, cartridge, and methods for analysis of analytes is disclosed. A PR system is provided that may include a DMF-LSPR cartridge that may support both digital microfluidic (DMF) capability and localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) capability for analysis of analytes. In some examples, the DMF portion of the DMF-LSPR cartridge may include an electrode arrangement for performing droplet operations, whereas the LSPR portion of the DMF-LSPR cartridge may include an LSPR sensor. In other examples, the LSPR portion of the DMF-LSPR cartridge may include an in-line reference channel, wherein the in-line reference channel may be a fluid channel including at least one functionalized LSPR sensor (or sample spot) and at least one non-functionalized LSPR sensor (or reference spot). Additionally, methods of using the PR system for analysis of analytes are provided.

The present invention concerns systems, materials, and methods of cell and particle separation utilizing magnetic levitation to affect separation.

Methods, devices, and systems for performing a plurality of isoelectric focusing reactions in parallel are described. In some instances, the disclosed devices may be designed to perform isoelectric focusing or other separation reactions followed by further characterization of the separated analytes using mass spectrometry. The disclosed methods, devices, and systems provide for fast, accurate separation and characterization of protein analyte mixtures or other biological molecules by isoelectric point.

A sensor for detecting a target pathogen (e.g., a virus or a bacterium) in a specimen is disclosed, which includes at least two sensing units one of which is configured to detect at least one protein (such as a structural protein) associated with the target pathogen and another one is configured to detect at least one genetic component (e.g., an RNA or a DNA segment) associated with that pathogen (e.g., an RNA segment that is unique to that pathogen).