Devices, methods, and kits are provided for allergy testing based on basophil activation in a blood sample. Susceptibility of an individual to an allergic reaction to an allergen is detected by collecting a blood sample from the individual and assaying for activation of basophils in response to stimulation with an allergen. In particular, a microfluidic device is provided for automating the assay for detecting basophil activation as an indication of the susceptibility of an individual to an allergic reaction as well as kits containing such a device and diagnostic methods for using such a device for allergy testing. Additionally, such a microfluidic device can be adapted for multiplexed detection of allergic responses to multiple allergens by performing assays in parallel to detect the basophil responses to each allergen.

In this invention, chromatography is integrated on a centrifugal platform to enable low-cost automated purification. Differing from the traditional chromatography method, purification and separation of a centrifugal compound collecting platform disclosed in the present invention mainly uses a centrifugal force to drive the fluid to flow outward in the radial direction when the motor rotates. The compounds to be separated react with the column packing during the flow, and the compounds with different polarities in the sample are gradually separated. The flow of the fluid can be governed by the motor and the geometry of the fluidic design such that compounds with different characteristics can be separated and collected in different collecting chambers.

A fluidic device includes a first circulation flow path and a second circulation flow path which circulate a solution containing a sample material, the first circulation flow path and the second circulation flow path share at least a part of the flow path, and at least one selected from the group consisting of a capture unit which captures the sample material, a detection unit which detects the sample material, a valve, and a pump is provided on the shared flow path.

Methods and systems are provided for isolating fetal cells from a maternal blood supply in order to perform non-invasive prenatal testing. In one example, a system for non-invasive prenatal testing includes a substrate coated with a cell-capturing surface, the cell-capturing surface including an array of pillar-like structures, each pillar-like structure including a plurality of intersecting arms.

Provided is a chip that does not require high-accuracy discharge amount control for a liquid delivery pump and can suppress the entrainment of air bubbles. A chip 1 for test or analysis is provided with a flow path 4 through which a fluid is delivered, the chip 1 including: a first flow path 5 through which a first fluid is delivered; a second flow path 6 through which a second fluid is delivered; a merging portion 8 configured to be provided on a downstream end portion 5a side of the first flow path 5 and merge the first fluid and the second fluid; a first connection flow path 9 configured to connect the first flow path 5 and the second flow path 6 at the merging portion 8 and have a liquid delivery resistance higher than a liquid delivery resistance of the first flow path 5; a degassing flow path 13 configured to be connected to the second flow path 6 on a downstream side of the first connection flow path 9; a third flow path 7 configured to be provided on a downstream side of the merging portion 8; and a second connection flow path 10 configured to connect the first flow path 5 and the third flow path 7 and have a liquid delivery resistance higher than the liquid delivery resistance of the first flow path 5.

The present invention relates to a method for the sensitive identification of high-affinity complexes made of two ligands (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) and one receptor (1). A large number of different ligands (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) of a chemical library are hereby contacted with at least one receptor (1) in a solution. The ligands of the library have a single-strand DNA (8, 9) or RNA with a base length of 2 to 10 bases or alternatively more than 10 bases. In addition, the solution is incubated for a specific period of time and complexes made of two ligands (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) and one receptor (1) are identified.

Microfluidic devices and methods for investigating crystallization and/or for controlling a reaction or a phase transition are disclosed. In one embodiment, the microfluidic device includes a reservoir layer; a membrane disposed on the reservoir layer; a wetting control layer disposed on the membrane; and a storage layer disposed on the wetting control layer, wherein the wetting control layer and the storage layer define a microfluidic channel comprising an upstream portion, a downstream portion, a first fluid path in communication with the upstream and the downstream portions, and a storage well positioned within the first fluid path, wherein the wetting control layer includes a fluid passageway in communication with the storage well and the membrane, and wherein the wetting control layer wets a first fluid introduced into the microfluidic channel, the first fluid comprising a hydrophilic, lipophilic, fluorophilic or gas phase as the continuous phase in the microfluidic channel.

The present disclosure is drawn to microfluidic devices. In one example, a microfluidic device can include a first covered fluid feed slot in fluid communication with a first microfluidic channel and a second covered fluid feed slot in fluid communication with a second microfluidic channel. The first microfluidic channel can be formed adjacent to the second microfluidic channel but not in fluid communication with the second microfluidic channel. The first covered fluid feed slot can include a first fluid feed hole for filling a fluid into the first covered fluid feed slot. The second covered fluid feed slot can also include a second fluid feed hole for filling a fluid into the second covered fluid feed slot.

An cartridge is combined with a smart device which is capable of communicating with a network to perform a portable, fast, field assay of a small sample biological analyte. A closed microfluidic circuit for mixes the analyte with a buffer with functionalized magnetic beads capable of being specifically combined with the analyte. A detector communicates with the microfluidic circuit in which the mixed analyte, buffer and combined functionalized magnetic beads are sensed. A microcontroller is coupled to detector for controlling the detector and for data processing an output assay signal from the detector. A user interface communicates with the microcontroller for providing user input and for providing user output through the smart device to the network.

A microfluidic cell culture system is provided. The system includes a dual circulation arrangement for providing the cell culture with culture medium (and, optionally, selected compounds for study). The dual circulation arrangement permits culture conditions to be readily modified for different phases of cell culture. In particular, a first circulation route can be used to circulate a relatively high volume of medium, thereby allowing a low cell number to medium volume ratio, and a second circulation route can be used to circulate a relatively low volume of medium, thereby allowing a high cell number to medium volume ratio. The first circulation is optimised for a pre-culture period, before test compounds are added, and the second circulation is optimised for the test phase, providing a high cell number to medium ratio while preserving function during the test period.