An assembly for performing in vitro biocompatibility tests, at least one sample is arranged on a surface of a base plate or the sample forms a surface or a surface region of the base plate. A holding element having at least one through-hole is placed onto the sample so that a first opening of the through-hole, which first opening is arranged facing the base plate, is arranged in the region of the sample. The through-hole, with the hollow space thereof, and the sample form a cavity. A cover element is placed onto and fastened on the holding element so that a compressive force acts on the holding element, which compressive force leads to at least partial deformation of the holding element and to a fluid-tight closure of the first opening of the through-hole, which first opening is arranged facing the base plate.

This disclosure provides a diagnostic system including a detection zone adapted to receive a volume of biological fluid. The detection zone includes a plurality of micro-scale and nano-scale features that render the detection zone superhydrophobic. Analytes (e.g., proteins and/or other molecules) are concentrated when the volume of biological fluid is allowed to evaporate on the detection zone. Concentrating the analytes in the detection zone by evaporation can advantageously increase the sensitivity of detection of the analyte. In various implementations, microfluidic channels can be integrated with the diagnostic system to convey the volume of biological fluid to the detection zone. In various implementations, the microfluidic channels can have a lower hydrophobic characteristic than the surrounding to realize self-driven microfluidic channels that convey the biological fluid to the detection zone without using any external devices.

The present invention relates to microfluidic fluidic devices, methods and systems as microfluidic kidney on-chips, e.g. human Proximal Tubule-Kidney-Chip, Glomerulus (Kidney)-Chip, Collecting Duct (Kidney)-Chip. Devices, methods and systems are described for drug testing including drug transport and renal clearance. Further, such devices, methods and systems are used for determining drug-drug interactions and their effect upon renal transporter functions. Importantly, they may be used for pre-clinical and clinical drug development for treating kidney diseases and for personalized medicine.

A device for performing a cell study. The device comprises a plate having a plurality of wells, each configured for containing aqueous solution and having a well bottom with a plurality of picowells and a plurality of biosensors each configured for measuring at least one cell characteristic while being in contact with the aqueous solution in a respective the well. The position of each the biosensor in a respective the well is limited by at least one pin.

The disclosure relates to a microfluidic control chip. The microfluidic control chip may include an upper cover, a lower cover, and a chip functional layer between the upper cover and the lower cover. The chip functional layer may include a first region. The chip functional layer in the first region may include at least one chamber unit, an inlet flow channel to the chamber unit, and an outlet flow channel from the chamber unit. The chamber unit may include a main flow channel, a plurality of secondary flow channels, and a plurality of microcavity structures. The chamber unit may be configured to allow a liquid to flow from the main flow channel to the plurality of secondary flow channels, and then to the plurality of microcavity structures.

Hydrodynamic Trap Array. The array includes a serpentine bypassing channel including a plurality of trapping pockets disposed therein, the trapping pockets including a ramp entry portion to decrease flow velocity orthogonal to the trapping pocket to increase trapping efficiency. The relative fluid resistances of the trapping pockets and the serpentine bypassing channel are selected such that a slight majority of the flow is diverted to one of the trapping pockets. A pair of microfluidic bypass channels flank the array of traps allowing independent control of upstream and downstream pressures on each side of the array, thereby decoupling flow magnitude in the bypass channels from flow across the trapping pockets.

A container (1) for storing a bodily fluid, for example a blood collection tube (2), comprising: an interior space (4) configured to store the bodily fluid; and a wall (5) enveloping the interior space, wherein a surface of the wall (5) facing the interior space (4) of the container (1) forms a contact surface (6), wherein at least a portion of the contact surface (6) is provided with a primer coating (7), wherein the primer coating (7) is formed from a perfluorophenyl azide (PFPA) including an azide group (9) and a functional group (10), and wherein a co polymer made from poly (N-vinylamine-co-N-vinyl acetamide) is bonded to the functional group (10) of the primer coating (7). The invention also relates to a method for coating a contact surface (6) of a container (1) for storing a bodily fluid.

A method of manipulating and/or investigating cellular bodies (9) is provided. The method comprises the steps of: providing a sample holder (3) comprising a holding space (5) for holding a fluid medium (11); providing a sample (7) comprising one or more cellular bodies (9) in a fluid medium (11) in the holding space (5); generating an acoustic wave in the holding space exerting a force (F) on the sample (7) in the holding space (5). The method further comprises providing the holding space (5) with a functionalised wall surface portion (17) to be contacted by the sample (7) and the sample (7) is in contact with the functionalised wall surface portion (17) during at least part of the step of application of the acoustic wave. A system and a sample holder (3) are also provided.

A lab-on-a-chip (LOC) for the biomimetic study of the multicellular interactions of bone cells includes a PDMS substrate and cap, which together form one or more wells that are fluidly coupled by tubes. The wells are configured to support various bone cells and related cellular support substrates therein, while the tubes allow conditioned medium (CM), including soluble signals, and various other co-factors to be communicated among the various wells. By controlling the configuration among and between various bone cells in the wells, the temporal and spatial limitations associated with traditional in vivo bone tissue models is removed. In addition, the LOC enables a particular research objective to be studied by allowing the user to configure the arrangement of the wells/tubes of the LOC, so as to control the manner in which bone cell soluble signals, bone cell contact, and bone cell matrix interaction interplay.

Systems and methods to integrate electrical sensors comprising parallel electrodes into microfluidic devices that are manufactured using soft lithography are disclosed herein. With minimal fabrication complexity, more uniform electric fields than conventional coplanar electrodes are produced. The methods disclosed are also more suitable for the construction of complex electrical sensor networks in microfluidic devices due to greater layout flexibility and provide improved sensitivity over conventional coplanar electrodes.