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 sample pretreatment tube includes a first tube receiving a primary reagent and a second tube receiving a secondary reagent, wherein the sample pretreatment tube can easily perform sequential reactions by allowing a primary reaction solution to be immediately discharged from the first tube to the second tube by breaking a separation membrane formed at a lower end of the first tube using a pipette, and can limit an insertion depth of the pipette using a stopper formed inside the first tube, thereby preventing damage to the second tube due to the pipette while allowing a space to be formed inside the first tube to facilitate discharge of a primary reaction solution, thus making it possible to immediately perform secondary reaction.

Magnetic levitation particle separation systems and methods for use with multi-channel flow cells. The system may include a core for receiving and holding the flow cell, with upper and lower clamps for securing the flow cell and positioning it relative to an array of magnets. The system is configured to image particle separation in processing channels of the flow cell, and to regulate the flow cell's temperature. The core may be removable as a single unit, facilitating reconfiguration of the system.

Embodiments of the invention relate to devices for assaying a biomolecule from a plant sample including: a microfluidic cartridge for assaying a biomolecule from a plant sample, including: a top layer; and a bottom layer spaced apart from the top layer in a generally parallel orientation with respect to the top layer, the bottom layer defining a plurality of wells therein that protrude from a surface of the bottom layer; and a filter module for filtering the plant sample, including a filter body defining: an upper portion including an inlet structure forming an inlet channel; and a bottom portion configured to accept and secure a filter membrane. The filter body is configured to accept a microvolume aliquot of the plant sample, the bottom structure includes an outlet structure forming an outlet channel on an outlet side of the filter membrane, and at least one of the plurality of wells includes an assay reagent solution.

The present disclosure provides a cell harvesting method for the efficient sedimentation and retention of cells from liquid samples onto a solid support with low cell losses and low impact on cell morphology.

A centrifugal microfluidic technique for heat treating emulsion-divided independent reaction volumes (IRVs) within a centrifugal microfluidic chip, and displacing the emulsion into a monolayer presentation chamber (pc) for imaging. A deep treatment chamber (tc) is provided for the heat treatment, a nozzle having a hydrodynamic radius for forming the IRVs is provided for injecting a sample for the IRVs into the tc filled with a dense immiscible medium. The tc is adjacent a heat controlled element for collectively heat treating the IRVs within the tc, where the IRVs form a 3d packing arrangement. The tc is coupled to a presentation chamber (pc) by an opening through which the IRVs can be selectively displaced without collapsing. The pc is adjacent a window transparent to a wavelength for inspecting the pc.

Compositions and methods for identifying antigen-specific T cells, including determining paired T cell receptor sequences for a specific antigen, are described. Compositions and methods for identifying neoantigen-specific T cells are also described. Microfluidic devices useful for identifying antigen-specific T cells, and methods of using the same, are also described.

A microfluidic device for analyzing permeability of substances through a membrane. Flow channels pass respective fluid flows with the substances through the housing between respective connectors. An access cavity extends from outside into the housing through the first flow channel and into the second flow channel for accessing an inside of the housing. The membrane can be placed over a cavity opening forming a fluid interconnection between overlapping areas of the flow channels A clamping ring in the first flow channel holds the sample membrane in place over the cavity opening while the membrane is exposed to the respective fluid flows through the flow channels on either sides of the membrane.

A fully automated microfluidic system (100) for detecting multiple different analytes in a single run comprises: a remote computer system (102), a microfluidic analyzer (300) having an illumination source and a detection module; and a cartridge (200) having a plurality of lightbulbs (224), a sample tank (204) and at least one reagent tank (210), wherein each lightbulb (224) is sealable by the microfluidic analyzer (300).

A microfluidic device is provided. In one aspect, the microfluidic device includes a microfluidic channel, and a first actuator including an array of electrodes along the microfluidic channel. The first actuator is configured to generate a a potential wave along the microfluidic channel. Each electrode of the array can see its voltage changing cyclically according to a period multiplied by a natural number, wherein for at least one electrode the natural number equals 1. The cyclically changing voltages of adjacent electrodes can be out of phase. The cyclically changing voltages of every other electrode along the array can be in phase.