A method of processing and storing biological cells includes introducing a flowable medium into a microfluidic device, the flowable medium including biological cells; sequestering one or more biological cells from the flowable medium in one or more isolation regions of the microfluidic device; and freezing the microfluidic device including the one or more biological cells sequestered therein.

This document relates to methods and materials for assessing and/or treating mammals (e.g., humans) having, or suspected of having, cancer. For example, methods and materials for identifying a mammal as having cancer are provided. For example, microfluidic devices that can be used to detect one or more target polypeptides (e.g., cancer-specific polypeptides) in a fluid sample obtained from a mammal (e.g., a mammal suspected of having cancer) are provided.

Geranyl pyrophosphate (GPP) is a key intermediate molecule in the bioproduction of thousands of natural products. Currently, natural products are either cultivated from plants, synthesized via complex chemical synthesis strategies, or through cell-based factories also known as biofoundries. However, in order to replicate the process in a cell free environment, numerous enzymes and cofactors must be utilized making this approach costly and unviable. In order to make this process viable, a new approach was needed that uses fewer enzymes and cofactors. As described herein, the present invention demonstrates that it is possible to create GPP from glycerol through a short and concise biosynthetic pathway outside of the cell.

The invention relates to new methods for synthesising polynucleotide molecules according to a predefined nucleotide sequence. The invention also relates to methods for the assembly of synthetic polynucleotides following synthesis, as well as systems and kits for performing the synthesis and/or assembly methods.

A method of immobilizing an oligonucleotide on a polypropylene surface involves oxidizing at least a portion of the polypropylene surface, and contacting an amine-terminated oligonucleotide with the oxidized polypropylene surface to immobilize the oligonucleotide to the oxidized polypropylene surface. The method of immobilizing labelled ssDNA on a polypropylene surface is useful in a hybridization assay.

The present invention relates to a liquid immersion micro-channel measurement device and measurement method which are based on trapezoidal incident structure prism incident-type silicon, and according to one embodiment of the present invention, the liquid immersion micro-channel measurement device based on trapezoidal incident structure prism incident-type silicon comprises: a micro-channel structure including a support and at least one micro-channel, which is formed on the support and has a sample detection layer to which a first bioadhesive material for detecting a first sample is fixed; a quadrangular pyramid-shaped prism formed on the upper part of the micro-channel structure; a sample injection unit for injecting, into the micro-channel, a buffer solution containing the first sample; a polarized light generation unit for emitting incident light polarized through the prism on the micro-channel at an incident angle that satisfies a p-wave non-reflection condition; and a polarized light detection unit for detecting, from the polarized incident light, a polarization change in a first refection light reflected from the sample detection layer, wherein the prism completely reflects, from the polarized incident light incident on the prism, on an upper boundary surface of the prism, second reflection light reflected from a lower boundary surface of the prism and a boundary surface of the buffer solution injected into the micro-channel.

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.

The invention provides a container for storing a biomaterial in which adhesion of a minute amount of a biomarker(s) contained in the biomaterial to the surface of the container for storage can be suppressed, and sample loss is reduced, while enabling analysis with accuracy and highly precision. In particular, the container for storing a biomaterial for reducing sample loss of a biomarker(s) contained in the biomaterial has a coating containing a copolymer which contains a recurring unit which contains a group represented by the following formula (a), a recurring unit which contains a group represented by the following formula (b), and optionally a recurring unit which contains a group represented by the following formula (c), on at least a part of the surface of the container:

##STR00001##

(wherein, U.sup.a1, U.sup.a2, U.sup.b1, U.sup.b2 and U.sup.b3, An.sup.− and R.sup.c are as defined herein).

Presented herein are compositions, systems, and methods related to optical substrates that simultaneous (1) enhance a fluorescence signal emitted by a fluorophore and (2) enhance “contrast” signal that comprises scattered signal intensity over substrate reflectivity at a non-fluorescent wavelength. In certain embodiments, the optical substrate comprises a thin, transparent, dielectric layer. In alternative embodiments, the optical substrate comprises a stack of thin, transparent dielectric layers, for example, that is designed for both specific scattering enhancement and fluorescence enhancement.

The present disclosure provides compositions and methods for making and using a support (e.g., a sample slide) for sample analysis. The present disclosure also provides compositions, methods, and systems for processing a sample on the support for use in nucleic acid sequence detection.