A system for testing for an analyte includes a test strip. The test strip includes a first flow path. The test strip further includes a heating element in communication with a heating area of the first flow path, for heating a sample in the first flow path. The test strip further includes an e-gate, the e-gate in the first flow path, the e-gate separating the heating area from a detection area of the first flow path.

A dielectrophoretic detection device including a chip, with a flow channel having at least one inlet and one outlet, and at least a detection area configured to detect analytes trapped on functionalised beads flowing within the flow channel, first and second electrode assemblies shaped as rows of parallel pillars extending a the height of the flow channel, and configured to generate under electric tension an electric field to form an electrical barrier, and preventing the beads to cross the barrier and drawing the beads to the detection area by dielectrophoretic forces where they are clustered and concentrated. The device may be provided with multiple rows of parallel pillars of electrode assemblies extending over the height of the flow channel, forming multiple concentration lines. The flow channel may be provided with further rows of parallel pillars of electrode assemblies crossing the flow channel in a transverse direction, forming further incubation lines.

Modular active surface devices for microfluidic systems and methods of making the same including adhesive-free assembly are disclosed. In some embodiments, the presently disclosed modular active surface devices and methods provide adhesive-free assembly processes, such as, but not limited to, laser beam welding (LBW) processes, ultrasonic welding processes, heat welding processes, chemical bonding processes, mechanical compression processes, and the like. In some embodiments, the modular active surface devices and methods provide a reagent hopper or well that is out-of-plane with the reaction chamber.

A microfluidic device includes a lower casing and an upper casing covering the lower casing. The lower casing includes a lower base wall having a top surface and a plurality of spaced-apart columns that protrude upwards from the top surface. The upper casing includes an upper base wall. A first gap between the upper base wall and a column top surface of each of the columns is large enough to permit passage of large biological particles of a liquid sample, and a second gap between any two adjacent ones of the columns is not large enough to permit passage of the large biological particles and is large enough to permit passage of small biological particles of the liquid sample.

There is provided a microfluidic device comprising a first region configured to hold target cells, e.g., tumor cells, a second region configured to hold effector cells, e.g., immune cells, and an array of microstructures disposed between the first and second regions, wherein the first region is in fluid communication with the second region, and wherein the array of microstructures is configured to selectively allow movement of immune cells, from the second region to an interaction zone that is at least partially disposed within the first region, for interaction with tumor cells in the interaction zone. The array of microstructures can be an array of micropillars. Also provided is a chip comprising a plurality of the device and a method of studying interactions of a first cell type with a second cell type.

A microfluidic device includes a microfluidic substrate having a porous media channel, an oil inlet port in fluid communication with the porous media channel, a fluid inlet port in fluid communication with the porous media channel, and an outlet port in fluid communication with the porous media channel. The porous media channel has a plurality of dividers that provide the porous media channel with a network of fluid pathways. A method for assessing miscibility of an oil composition and a fluid includes flowing an aliquot of a fluid through a porous media channel to displace at least an oil composition from the porous media channel, and conducting an optical investigation of the porous media channel to assess the miscibility of the oil composition and the fluid at the test pressure and test temperature.

A flow channel structure for removing a foreign substance, including a first flow channel, where the first flow channel has a first region having a depth shallower than a depth of another region. A method for removing a foreign substance in a fluid, including flowing the fluid to the first flow channel of the flow channel structure for removing a foreign substance.

A method for nucleic acid isolation comprising: receiving a binding moiety solution within a process chamber; mixing the binding moiety solution with a biological sample, within the process chamber, in order to produce a moiety-sample mixture; incubating the moiety-sample mixture during a time window, thereby producing a solution comprising a set of moiety-bound nucleic acid particles and a waste volume; separating the set of moiety-bound nucleic acid particles from the waste volume; washing the set of moiety-bound nucleic acid particles; and releasing a nucleic acid sample from the set of moiety-bound nucleic acid particles. The method preferably utilizes a binding moiety comprising at least one of poly(allylamine) and polypropylenimine tetramine dendrimer, both of which reversibly bind and unbind to nucleic acids based upon environmental pH.

A single junction sorter for a microfluidic particle sorter, the single-junction sorter comprising: an input channel, configured to receive a fluid containing particles; an output sort channel and an output waste channel, each connected to the input channel for receiving the fluid therefrom; a bubble generator, operable to selectively displace the fluid around a particle to be sorted and thereby to create a transient flow of the fluid in the input channel; and a vortex element, configured to cause a vortex in the transient flow in order to direct the particle to be sorted into the output sort channel.

Devices for the separation of components within a fluid are disclosed herein. The device includes a housing that contains a roll of film with spaced apart microstructures thereon to crate channels to direct fluid flow. The channels have functionalized surfaces to attract and retain desired components in the fluid so that those components can be separated from the fluid. The film roll is typically contained by an outer sleeve around its perimeter to contain the fluid therein. The device also includes a central hub on which the film roll is mounted.