Fluid may be pumped within a microfluidic channel across a cell/particle sensor using a microscopic resistor. The microscopic resistor may be selectively actuated so as to heat the fluid within the microfluidic channel to a temperature below a nucleation energy of the fluid so as to regulate a temperature of the fluid for at least when the cell/particle sensor is sensing the fluid.

Systems and methods for measuring dynamic hydraulic conductivity and permeability associated with a cell layer are disclosed. Some systems include a microfluidic device, one or more working-fluid reservoirs, and one or more fluid-resistance element. The microfluidic device includes a first microchannel, a second microchannel, and a barrier therebetween. The barrier includes a cell layer adhered thereto. The working fluids are delivered to the microfluidic device. The fluid-resistance elements are coupled to one or more of the fluid paths and provide fluidic resistance to cause a pressure drop across the fluid-resistance elements. Mass transfer occurs between the first microchannel and the second microchannel, which is indicative of the hydraulic conductivity and/or dynamic permeability associated with the cells.

Disclosed are methods and devices for detection of ion migration and binding, utilizing a nanopipette adapted for use in an electrochemical sensing circuit. The nanopipette may be functionalized on its interior bore with metal chelators for binding and sensing metal ions or other specific binding molecules such as boronic acid for binding and sensing glucose. Such a functionalized nanopipette is comprised in an electrical sensor that detects when the nanopipette selectively and reversibly binds ions or small molecules. Also disclosed is a nanoreactor, comprising a nanopipette, for controlling precipitation in aqueous solutions by voltage-directed ion migration, wherein ions may be directed out of the interior bore by a repulsing charge in the bore.

Devices, containers, and methods are provided for performing biological analysis in a closed environment. Illustrative biological analyses include nucleic acid amplification and detection and immuno-PCR.

A microfluidic system can include a substrate comprising an elastic material and defining a microfluidic channel. The substrate can have a first set of dimensions defining a thickness of a wall of the microfluidic channel and a second set of dimensions defining a width of the microfluidic channel. A transducer can be mechanically coupled with the substrate. The transducer can be operated at a predetermined frequency different from a primary thickness resonant frequency of the transducer. A thickness and a width of the transducer can be selected based on the first set of dimensions defining the thickness of the wall of the microfluidic channel and the second set of dimensions defining the width of the microfluidic channel.

A microporous substrate for detection of surface bound target analyte molecules includes a microporous substrate material having opposed surfaces and tapered micropores extending through the substrate with the micropores having wider openings on one side of the substrate compared to the other side. The micropores have bound therein analyte specific receptors complementary to the target molecules. When a liquid sample containing the target analyte molecules with optical probes attached to the target molecules is flowed through the substrate, they bind to their complementary analyte specific receptors and emit light. This microporous substrate structure gives an increase in the collection efficiency of light emitted from optical probes when the light is detected by a light detector spaced from the side of the microporous substrate facing the larger micropores openings compared to a light collection efficiency of light emitted from the optical probes when the micropores are straight and not tapered.

A cartridge for use in an electrowetting sample processing system, the cartridge having at least one inlet port for introducing an input liquid in an internal gap of the cartridge, wherein the gap has at least one hydrophobic surface and is configured to provide an electrowetting induced movement of a microfluidic droplet of input liquid, wherein the input liquid has a carrier liquid and a processing liquid and the gap has a capture zone that is configured to capture at least a part of the processing liquid as a microfluidic droplet by use of electrowetting force and the gap further has a transfer zone that is configured to provide a passage for the carrier liquid next to the microfluidic droplet, while processing liquid is captured in the capture zone.

A fluidic device having first side and second side. The fluidic device includes first latch mechanism and second latch mechanism for receiving connector, arranged on first side; and a first fluidic chip holder and second fluidic chip holder, arranged on first side in alignment with first latch mechanism and second latch mechanism, for holding first fluidic chip and second fluidic chip, respectively. The fluidic device includes a traction surface to couple the fluidic device with an actuator to move the fluidic device to select which of first or second fluidic chip is to be used. Disclosed is an apparatus with a container, tubular material feeding line, tubular printing composition feeding line, and actuator.

The present invention relates to a device (10) for use in fluid sample analysis. It is described to position (310) a top part (20) of the device (10) adjacent to a base part (30) of the device so as to define a fluidic receiving region in between, the top part being provided with a through opening fluidly connected to the fluidic receiving region, and the bottom part being provided with a radiation window adjacent to the fluidic receiving region. A fluidic sample is supplied (320) through the opening (24). The fluidic sample is moved laterally (330) in the fluid receiving region without the use of an intermediary membrane between the top part and the base part. A radiation is emitted (340) to the fluid receiving region. A radiation is detected (350) that is reflected by the device. A presence of the fluidic sample is determined (360) on the basis of a measured reflectance value based on the detected radiation.

There is provided a sample processing cartridge comprising a. a sample entry location; b. a closed sample processing chamber; c. a sample analysis location comprising a sample analysis well; d. a first channel fluidly connecting the sample entry location and the sample processing chamber; e. a second channel connecting the sample analysis location and the sample processing chamber, the second channel comprising a closed or closable second channel valve; wherein the sample processing chamber comprises a second channel port providing fluid connection between the second channel and the sample processing chamber, the second channel port being positioned in a sample accumulating region of the sample processing chamber. There is also provided a sample processing system comprising the cartridge, and methods of use of the cartridge and processing system in a sample processing assay.