An electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD) microfluidic device comprises at least one integrated electrochemical sensor, the electrochemical sensor comprising: a reference electrode; a sensing electrode; and an analyte-selective layer positioned over the sensing electrode. In some embodiments, the electrochemical sensor measures a concentration of an analyte in a fluid sample exposed to the electrochemical sensor based on a potential difference between the reference electrode and the sensing electrode. The first analyte and the second analyte can be selected from a group consisting of K.sup.+, Na.sup.+, Ca.sup.2+, Cl.sup.-, HCO.sub.3.sup.-, Mg.sup.2+, H.sup.+, Ba.sup.2+, Pb.sup.2+, Cu.sup.2+, I.sup.-, NH4.sup.+, (SO4).sup.2-.

Embodiments of the disclosure provide a nucleic acid extraction microfluidic chip, and a nucleic acid extraction device and method. The nucleic acid extraction microfluidic chip includes a channel plate including: a mixed lysis zone, an extraction zone adjacent to the mixed lysis zone, a gas-pressure driven port in communication with an exterior, a first type of channel communicating the mixed lysis zone with the extraction zone, and a second type of channel communicating the extraction zone with the gas-pressure driven port; a cover plate opposite to the channel plate, wherein the cover plate includes a sample inlet and a liquid inlet through hole in a location corresponding to the mixed lysis zone; and a solution accommodating cavity, on a side of the cover plate away from the channel plate, wherein the solution accommodating cavity communicates with the mixed lysis zone of the channel plate through the liquid inlet through hole.

A microfluidic device for analyzing permeability of substances through a membrane. Flow channels pass respective fluid flows with the substances through the housing between respective connectors. An access cavity extends from outside into the housing through the first flow channel and into the second flow channel for accessing an inside of the housing. The membrane can be placed over a cavity opening forming a fluid interconnection between overlapping areas of the flow channels A clamping ring in the first flow channel holds the sample membrane in place over the cavity opening while the membrane is exposed to the respective fluid flows through the flow channels on either sides of the membrane.

A liquid handling device includes a plurality of first wells configured for a first sample; a first channel connected to the plurality of first wells; a plurality of second wells configured for a second sample; a second channel connected to the plurality of second wells; a plurality of processing agent wells configured for a processing agent configured to process the first sample and the second sample; a processing agent channel connected to the plurality of processing agent wells; and a common channel connected to the first channel, the second channel and the processing agent channel.

The present disclosure provides approaches for reducing tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) in tobacco. Some of these approaches include genetically engineering tobacco plants to increase one or more antioxidants, increase oxygen radicle absorbance capacity (ORAC), or reduce nitrite. Also provided are methods and compositions for producing modified tobacco plants and tobacco products therefrom comprising reduced TSNAs.

A disposable diagnostic device includes a body having a first channel and a second channel spaced from the first channel. A shroud is operably fixed to the body and encloses a chamber which is configured in a hermetically sealed-off relation from the first and second channels when the device is in a non-activated first state and is in open communication with at least one of the first and second channels when the device is in an activated second state. A reactant and an inert gas are disposed in the chamber such that the inert gas protects the reactant from being exposed to contaminants when the device is in said non-activated first state. A method of constructing a disposable diagnostic device is also disclosed.

The disclosure relates to an arrangement (100) in a capillary driven fluid system for metering a predetermined volume of sample fluid. The arrangement comprises a sample reservoir (SR) arranged to receive a sample fluid, a first channel (C1) which is in fluid communication with the sample reservoir (SR) and which branches off into a second channel (C2) ending at a first valve (V1) and a third channel (C3) ending at a second valve (V2). The second channel (C2) and the third channel (C3) together have a predetermined volume, and the first channel (C1) is arranged to draw sample fluid from the sample reservoir (SR) by use of capillary forces to fill the second channel (C2) and the third channel (C3) with the predetermined volume of sample fluid. By selectively opening the first valve (V1) and the second valve (V2), a capillary driven flow may be formed, thereby causing the predetermined volume of sample fluid to flow out through the first valve (V1).

The present invention relates to a microfluidic device and method for providing emulsion droplets. The device comprising: a microfluidic section comprising one or more microfluidic units; and a well section comprising one or more groups of wells comprising one group of wells for each microfluidic unit; the well section and the microfluidic section forming a fixedly connected unit such that each group of wells forms a fixedly connected unit with a respective corresponding microfluidic unit, each microfluidic unit comprising a fluid conduit network comprising: a plurality of supply conduits comprising a secondary supply conduit and a primary supply conduit comprising a capillary structure having a volume of at least 2 μL; a transfer conduit; and a first fluid junction providing fluid communication between the primary supply conduit, the secondary supply conduit, and the transfer conduit; each group of wells comprising a plurality of wells comprising a collection well and one or more supply wells comprising a primary supply well, the collection well being in fluid communication with the transfer conduit of the corresponding microfluidic unit, the primary supply well being in fluid communication with the primary supply conduit and the secondary supply conduit of the corresponding microfluidic unit.

An array microfluidic chip includes a chip mainbody, a transparent hydrophilic membrane, and a covering sheet. The chip mainbody includes a sample loading well and a plurality of reaction wells. The reaction wells are respectively connected to the sample loading well and arranged in an array form. The transparent hydrophilic membrane is disposed on the chip mainbody and covers the reaction wells. The transparent hydrophilic membrane includes a plurality of air pores and a first opening. The air pores are respectively connected to one of the reaction wells. The covering sheet covers the air pores and includes an adhesive element and a vent hole. The covering sheet, the adhesive element and the transparent hydrophilic membrane are stacked to form a vent space.

Provided herein, among other aspects, are methods and apparatuses for analyzing particles in a sample. In some aspects, the particles can be analytes, cells, nucleic acids, or proteins and can be contacted with a tag, partitioned into aliquots, detected by a ranking device, and isolated. The methods and apparatuses provided herein may include a microfluidic chip. In some aspects, the methods and apparatuses may be used to quantify rare particles in a sample, such as cancer cells and other rare cells for disease diagnosis, prognosis, or treatment.