The invention relates to a method of manipulating droplets in a channel area, comprising: providing a flow of carrier fluid in the channel area; providing at least one droplet of a first fluid and at least one droplet of a second fluid within the carrier fluid, the first fluid and the second fluid being immiscible with the carrier fluid; displacing the droplet of first fluid and the droplet of second fluid along the channel area, successively (a) by a flow of carrier fluid in a first direction and at a first flow rate; and (b) by a flow of carrier fluid in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and at a second flow rate different from the first flow rate.

The present disclosure provides an electrode plate, a microfluidic chip, and a method of manufacturing the electrode plate. In one embodiment, an electrode plate includes: a substrate, an electrode and a surface contact layer stacked in sequence, and a droplet inlet hole passing through the substrate, the electrode and the surface contact layer. The surface contact layer comprises a super-hydrophobic region and a hydrophilic region, and the droplet inlet hole is disposed in the hydrophilic region. The microfluidic chip includes: a first electrode plate formed by the abovementioned electrode plate, and a second electrode plate provided on a side of the first electrode plate close to the surface contact layer. The first electrode plate is provided opposite to the second electrode plate and a liquid channel is formed between the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate.

A magnetic digital microfluidic apparatus for manipulating a liquid droplet containing magnetic particles using a magnetic force, the apparatus comprising: a hydrophobic surface on which the liquid droplet containing magnetic particles can be moved using the magnetic force; and at least one surface energy trap provided to retain at least a portion of the liquid droplet thereon, the at least one surface energy trap comprising a layer of polydopamine. A method of magnetic digital microfluidic manipulation, the method comprising the steps of: a) contacting a liquid droplet on a hydrophobic surface with a polydopamine surface energy trap, the liquid droplet containing magnetic particles; b) retaining at least a portion of the liquid droplet on the surface energy trap; and c) moving at least the magnetic particles with a magnetic force.

A detection chip, a method for operating a detection chip, and a reaction system are disclosed. The detection chip includes a first substrate, a micro-cavity defining layer, a hydrophilic layer, and a hydrophobic layer. The micro-cavity defining layer is on the first substrate and defines a plurality of micro-reaction chambers. Each of the plurality of micro-reaction chambers includes a reaction trap, and the reaction trap includes a sidewall and a bottom. The micro-cavity defining layer includes a spacing region between the plurality of micro-reaction chambers, and the spacing region includes a first region adjacent to the sidewall, and a second region non-adjacent to the sidewall. The hydrophilic layer covers the sidewall and the bottom of each of the plurality of micro-reaction chambers, and the hydrophobic layer covers the second region.

Immunoassay devices with plurality of fluid flow channels that are discrete and designed for optimal fluid control are described. Substrates configured to control the rate of fluid flow for in-situ immunoassay measurements to detect and quantify the presence of one or more analytes of interest in a sample are also described. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to consumables for lateral flow assays, which in conjunction with an instrument detect markers or causative agents of medical conditions.

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.

The present disclosure provides a method of cell sedimentation and retention of target cells, for example circulating tumour cells, CTC, from a fluid sample onto a solid support. The method comprises placing a fluid medium comprising the target cells in a fluid chamber, the fluid chamber having an open end sealed against a surface of the solid support. The method further comprises subjecting the fluid medium to centrifugation within the fluid chamber to induce sedimentation of the target cells and promote cell adhesion to the surface of the solid support. The method further comprises, post-centrifugation, positioning a fluid absorbing element in the fluid chamber to remove fluid from the fluid chamber. The method further comprises controlling a flow rate of the fluid being absorbed by the fluid absorbing element such that the sedimented cells are not detached from the surface of the solid support.

An assay device allows enhancement of the liquid control performance. The assay device of the present invention includes a microflow passage 1,31,41 which allows flow of the liquid, an absorbing porous medium 2,42 disposed at a distance from one end of the microflow passage, and a separating space 3,43 disposed between the one end of the microflow passage and the absorbing porous medium. The assay device further includes two sideways ventilation passages 6,46 which are adjacent to both sides of the microflow passage, respectively in the width direction orthogonal to the flow direction, the two sideways ventilation passages 6,46 being communicated with the microflow passage to allow air circulation.

The disclosure relates to devices and methods for analyzing particles in a sample. In various embodiments, the present disclosure provides devices and methods for cytometry and additional analysis. In various embodiments, the present disclosure provides a cartridge device and a reader instrument device, wherein the reader instrument device receives, operates, and/or actuates the cartridge device. In various embodiments, the present disclosure provides a method of using a device as disclosed herein for analyzing particles in a sample.

A microfluidic biochip for detecting disease antigens using gold nano interdigitated electrode circuit under a controlled self-driven flow condition is disclosed. The biochip incorporates hydrophilic microchannels for controlled self-driven flow and gold nano interdigitated electrodes for capacitive sensing with enhanced sensitivity. The biochip's microchannel has a surface treated with oxygen plasma to control microchannel surface hydrophilicity and flow rate of the biofluid sample. Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) are utilized as an intermediate layer to enhance the binding capability to nano electrodes to enhance sensitivity. Due to the carboxylic groups of the CNTs, covalent bond binding between the antibodies and the CNTs allows the antibodies to adhere more readily on the surface of the electrodes. The quantity of antibodies attaching to the surface is increased due to the high surface to area ratio in CNTs.