A multiple well device for processing fluid samples is provided, comprising a plate including a plurality of wells, each well including a first sub-well and a second sub-well, separated by an individual dialysis membrane; each individual dialysis membrane having a top end and a bottom end, having a continuous taper from the top end to the bottom end, each first sub-well and each second sub-well having an upper end and a lower end, and side walls, wherein one side wall is a common side wall shared by the first sub-well and the second sub-well, the common side wall having a continuous tapered cut-out with the individual dialysis membrane fluid-tightly sealed in the continuous tapered cut-out.

System and method includes a body having a central microchannel separated by one or more porous membranes. The membranes are configured to divide the central microchannel into a two or more parallel central microchannels, wherein one or more first fluids are applied through the first central microchannel and one or more second fluids are applied through the second or more central microchannels. The surfaces of each porous membrane can be coated with cell adhesive molecules to support the attachment of cells and promote their organization into tissues on the upper and lower surface of the membrane. The pores may be large enough to only permit exchange of gases and small chemicals, or to permit migration and transchannel passage of large proteins and whole living cells. Fluid pressure, flow and channel geometry also may be varied to apply a desired mechanical force to one or both tissue layers.

A microfluidic device is disclosed which comprises: (i) at least one reaction unit having a test chamber connected to at least one microchannel, wherein a surface of at least a portion of said reaction unit is attached to an isolated nucleic acid; and (ii) a flow-through channel having at least one inlet port and at least one outlet port, said flow-through channel and said microchannel being of dimensions to allow reactant diffusion to and from said reaction unit, wherein the diffusion time of said reactant along the microchannel is shorter than the flow time along the microchannel.

A device includes an input chamber, an attractant chamber, a migration channel arranged in fluid communication between an outlet of the input chamber and inlet of the attractant chamber, a baffle arranged in fluid communication between the outlet of the input chamber and the migration channel or within the migration channel, and an exit channel in fluid communication with the migration channel at a point beyond the baffle and before the migration channel enters the inlet of the attractant chamber. The baffle is configured to inhibit movement of a first type of cell through the baffle to a greater extent than the baffle inhibits movement of a second type of cell through the baffle.

Methods, systems and kits are described herein for detecting the results of an assay. In particular, the methods, systems and devices of the present disclosure rely on a difference between the diffusion rates of a reporter molecule and an analyte of interest in order to quantify an amount of analyte in a microfluidic device. The analyte may be a secreted product of a biological micro-object.

The invention provides novel microfluidic devices and methods based on microscale gradients that are useful in a variety of applications, such as biomolecule stability, interactions, binding properties, etc.

A biochip for detection of volatile organic compounds in air includes one or more wells for holding living cells. A capillary connecting each well to a liquid source may be used. The liquid source may be an on-chip reservoir or a system liquid supply. An air flow channel is separated from each well by a membrane. At least a portion of the biochip is transparent to allow optical detection of cell fluorescence. The biochip may be made of multiple flat transparent layers attached together. A system for detecting volatile organic compounds in air has an optical system adapted to detect fluorescence of genetically modified living cells expressing an odorant receptor capable of binding to the volatile organic compound and a calcium sensitive fluorescent reporter that fluoresces in response to binding of the volatile organic compound to the odorant receptor.

An evaluation instrument is used in evaluating a compound produced by a cell. The evaluation instrument includes a holding space for holding a suspension containing the cell and a through hole that is formed at a bottom of the holding space. The through hole is closed with a substance that is impermeable to the cell and allows the compound to move therethrough.

The present disclosure relates to a microfluidic device capable of mimicking a biological microenvironment thereby achieving control of a microenvironment with time through control of the diffusion of target elements between chambers by interrupting or generating fluid flow inside a channel, and a method for manufacturing the same, and the microfluidic device according to an aspect of the present disclosure can mimic the biological microenvironment which changes constantly with time via a simple temporary operation of generating or interrupting fluid flow in the channel mechanically and can control diffusion via a simple method, and accordingly, a complicated microenvironment can be reproduced since the number and arrangement of diffusion chambers and channels can be designed variously.

Apparatus and methods for determining whether a test compound induces cell activity, changes cell activity, prevents cell activity, or inhibits cell activity. An embodiment comprises placing a test compound solution in contact with a cell suspension media containing cells, diffusing the test compound solution into the cell suspension from one or more sides, and detecting activity in the cells with respect to their distance from the side from which the test compound is diffusing. Embodiments may provide an apparatus that allows a side source, a point source, or both, from which a test compound solution diffuses into a cell suspension media and contacts cells. Detecting cell activity may involve detecting activity in a first cell group proximate to the side from which the test compound is diffusing, and detecting activity in a second cell group farther than the first cell group from the side from which the test compound is diffusing.