The present invention relates methods for separation and/or concentration of cell nuclei and/or live cells from cellular and nuclear debris, and dead cells using magnetic levitation.

Methods and devices for evaluating coagulation are described, including methods and devices for detecting an anticoagulant agent or a coagulation abnormality. In various embodiments, the methods and devices of the invention measure coagulation of a sample in response to a gradient of one or more coagulation factors. These responses can be evaluated to accurately profile coagulation impairments of the sample, including the presence of anticoagulant medication. In various embodiments, the invention provides point-of-care or bedside testing with a convenient, microfluidic device that can be used by minimally trained personnel.

The present invention discloses a microstructured discrimination device for separating hydrophobic-hydrophilic fluidic composites comprising particulate and/or fluids in a fluid flow. The discrimination is the result of surface energy gradients obtained by physically varying a textured surface and/or by varying surface chemical properties, both of which are spatially graded. Such surfaces discriminate and spatially separate particulate and/or fluids without external energy input. The device of the present invention comprises a platform having bifurcating microchannels arranged radially. The lumenal surfaces of the microchannels may have a surface energy gradient created by varying the periodicity of hierarchically arranged microstructures along a dimension. The surface energy gradient is varied in two regions. In one pre-bifurcation region the surface energy gradient generates a fluid flow. In the other post-bifurcation region, there is a difference in surface energy proximal to the bifurcation such that different flow fractions are divided into separate channels in response to different surface energy gradients in each of the post-bifurcation channels. Accordingly, fluids of different hydrophobicity and/or particulate of different hydrophobicity are driven into separate channels by a global minimization of the fluid system energy.

A diagnostic device (1) for detecting a first member of a reporter-analyte pair. The diagnostic device comprises an inlet for receiving a liquid, biological sample and a porous membrane element (10) comprising a detection portion. The detection portion is in liquid communication with the inlet and a second member of the reporter-analyte pair is immobilised on the detection portion. One of the first or second member of the reporter-analyte pair comprises a biological antigen and the other of the first or second member of the reporter-analyte pair comprises an antibody specific for the biological antigen. The biological antigen comprises a spike protein, or a fragment thereof, of COVID-19. The device is for independent detection of the spike protein, or the fragment thereof, or of an antibody specific for the spike protein, or the fragment thereof, in the biological sample.

This invention consists of a method for the development of personalized target anticancer therapies based on aptamers and through the systemic modeling of an individual in microfluidic devices. This invention is embodied in microfluidic devices, connections, systems, and methods for the development specific aptamers for the relevant complex biological environment targets. In a first mode, the invention provides methods for the development of target therapies which involves the maintenance of target cancerous cells in co-culture with non-target and non-cancerous cells by using microfluidic devices modularly arranged in closed systems for the development of aptamers. In a second mode, the invention provides a method for the development of target therapies, which includes the maintenance of target cells in co-culture with non-target cells by using microfluidic devices modularly arranged in closed systems. In this case, the invention provides the development of aptamers for the relevant target in homeostatic balance with the components of the fluid conditioned by the co-culture with non-target cells.

A system and method for processing and detecting nucleic acids from a set of biological samples, comprising: a capture plate and a capture plate module configured to facilitate binding of nucleic acids within the set of biological samples to magnetic beads; a molecular diagnostic module configured to receive nucleic acids bound to magnetic beads, isolate nucleic acids, and analyze nucleic acids, comprising a cartridge receiving module, a heating/cooling subsystem and a magnet configured to facilitate isolation of nucleic acids, a valve actuation subsystem configured to control fluid flow through a microfluidic cartridge for processing nucleic acids, and an optical subsystem for analysis of nucleic acids; a fluid handling system configured to deliver samples and reagents to components of the system to facilitate molecular diagnostic protocols; and an assay strip configured to combine nucleic acid samples with molecular diagnostic reagents for analysis of nucleic acids.

A fluidic chip includes at least one nanochannel array, the nanochannel array including a surface having a nanofluidic area formed in the material of the surface; a microfluidic area on said surface; a gradient interface area having a gradual elevation of height linking the microfluidic area and the nanofluidic area; and a sample reservoir capable of receiving a fluid in fluid communication with the microfluidic area. In another embodiment, a fluidic chip includes at least one nanochannel array, the nanochannel array includes a surface having a nanofluidic area formed in the material of the surface; a microfluidic area on said surface; and a gradient interface area linking the microfluidic area and the nanofluidic area, where the gradient interface area comprises a plurality of gradient structures, and the lateral spacing distance between said gradient structures decreases towards said nanofluidic area; and a sample reservoir capable of receiving a fluid in fluid communication with the microfluidic area.

A device and a driving method for driving a microfluidic chip are disclosed. The device for driving a microfluidic chip includes a carrying member configured to carry the microfluidic chip; a releasing member configured to electrically connected to the microfluidic chip, and control the release of the reagent of the microfluidic chip a valve control member configured to control the opening and closing of the flow channel in the valve control area of the microfluidic chip when the valve control area is within the valve control range of the valve control member a fluid driving member configured to drive the flow of fluid in the microfluidic chip, and a controller configured to control the driving process of the microfluidic chip.

A system, mixing-enhanced microfluidic container, and methods for small volume sample collection and/or analysis is disclosed. Namely, the invention is directed to a small volume sample collection system that includes a mixing-enhanced microfluidic container and a durable reusable actuation chuck. The mixing-enhanced microfluidic container is used to collect small volumes of sample fluid and includes a means for mixing the sample fluid with reagents disposed within the microfluidic container. The mixing means utilize an array of surface-attached structures (e.g., a micropost array). The application of an “actuation force,” such as a magnetic or electric field, actuates the surface-attached structures into movement, wherein the actuation chuck in close proximity to the mixing-enhanced microfluidic container provides the “actuation force.”

A microstructured surface is disclosed capable of immobilizing or resisting displacement forces with respect to a target surface. The microstructured surface is capable of generating capillary bridges with a target surface. The capillary bridges can be further stabilized to generate a novel liquid enhanced adhesion mechanism.