Described herein are microfluidic devices and methods that can greatly improve cell quality, streamline workflows, and lower costs. Applications include research and clinical diagnostics in cancer, infectious disease, and inflammatory disease, among other disease areas.

A mixer for generating particles, comprising a first mixing unit, wherein the first mixing unit comprises a first channel (702) and a second channel (701), the first channel (702) comprises a rectilinear channel, the second channel (701) comprises a curvilinear channel. The mixer is particularly suitable for producing nanoparticles, and the mixing efficiency can be improved. A microfluidic hybrid chip cartridge prepared by the mixer is also provided.

A fluidic system for fraction collection comprises a switching valve having a plurality of ports for connecting first and second ports in different configurations. An inlet line is directly connected to the first port, and a collection device is directly connected to the second port. In a collection configuration, the first port and the second port are connected. The ports further comprise third and fourth ports, and the fluidic system further comprises a buffer section directly connected to the third and fourth ports. The fluidic system further comprises a first collection reservoir and is configured to position the collection device to expel a fluid into the first collection reservoir. In a buffer configuration, fluid flows through the inlet line, the first port, the third port, the buffer section, the fourth port, the second port, and the collection device.

Provided are valveless microfluidic flowchips comprising fluid flow barrier structures or configurations. Further provided are systems and methods having increased fluid transfer control in a valveless microfluidic flowchip. The systems and methods can be used in the present valveless microfluidic flowchips as well as in currently available valveless microfluidic flowchips.

A microfluidic device capable of trapping contents in a manner suitable for high-throughput imaging is described herein. The microfluidic device may include one or more trapping devices, with each trapping device having a plurality of trapping channels. The trapping channels may be configured to receive contents via an inlet channel that connects a sample reservoir to the trapping channels via fluid communication. The trapping channels are shaped such that contents within the trapping channels are positioned for optimal imaging purposes. The trapping channels are also connect to at least one exit channel via fluid communication. The fluid, and contents within the fluid, may be controlled via hydraulic pressure.

In accordance with one embodiment, a processing device includes a heated internal wall and a rotating rod positioned within an interior space formed by the heated internal wall. The rotating rod may be hollow and act as an internal heat exchanger. The processing device also includes a plurality of baffles spaced apart from one another along the rotating rod and extending away from the rotating rod towards the heated internal wall. The processing device also includes at least one wiper or roller coupled to an edge of at least one of the plurality of baffles or porous, packed basket, coupled to the rotating rod and that contacts the heated internal wall while rotating together with the rotating rod. In another embodiment, a processing device may be used to adsorb reactive gases into a liquid phase while heat is exchanged.

Systems and methods in accordance with various embodiments of the invention are capable of rapid analysis and classification of cellular samples based on cytomorphological properties. In several embodiments, cells suspended in a fluid medium are passed through a microfluidic channel, where they are focused to a single stream line and imaged continuously. In a number of embodiments, the microfluidic channel establishes flow that enables individual cells to each be imaged at multiple angles in a short amount of time. A pattern recognition system can analyze the data captured from high-speed images of cells flowing through this system and classify target cells. In this way, the automated platform creates new possibilities for a wide range of research and clinical applications such as (but not limited to) point of care services.

A cell-trapping device includes a microchannel portion for trapping a plurality of cells with an average diameter of at most 25 μm for high-throughput microinjection of an injectant into the cells. The cell-trapping device includes a microchannel portion having formed therein a cell-trapping area including a plurality of cell-trapping microchannels configured to trap one cell per cell-trapping channel. A method for preparing the cell-trapping device and an apparatus for high-throughput microinjection is also provided. Further provided is a method for injecting an injectant into a plurality of cells. The cell-trapping device, apparatus, and method allow for a rapid and highly reproducible microinjection into small cells with high productivity, high accuracy and a good cell survival rate.

Methods of sorting T lymphocytes in a microfluidic device are provided. The methods can include flowing a fluid sample comprising T lymphocytes through a region of a microfluidic device that contains an array of posts. The array of posts can be configured to have a critical size (D.sub.c) that separates activated T lymphocytes from naïve T lymphocytes. Also provided are microfluidic devices having an array of posts configured to separate activated T lymphocytes from naïve T lymphocytes, compositions enriched for T lymphocytes, particularly activated T lymphocytes that are known to be reactive to an antigen of interest, and methods of treating subjects suffering from a pathogenic disorder or cancer by administering such compositions.

A microchannel for processing cells by compression of the cells including an inlet, ridges and an outlet. Each ridge including a compressive surface and a cell adhesion entity. The outlet configured to remove at least one of a first portion of the cells and a second portion of the cells from the microchannel. Each ridge oriented at an angle of from 25 degrees to 70 degrees relative to a center axis of the microchannel. The cell adhesion entity configured such that the first portion of the cells has a first adhesion property relative to the cell adhesion entity to follow a first trajectory through the microchannel. The cell adhesion entity further configured such that the second portion of the cells has a second adhesion property relative to the cell adhesion entity to follow a second trajectory through the microchannel. The first trajectory is different from the second trajectory.