Provided is a microfluidic device capable of removing microbubbles in a channel by using a porous thin film, the microfluidic device comprising: an upper panel comprising a microfluidic channel through which a fluid passes; a porous thin film attached to the bottom surface of the microfluidic channel so as to remove microbubbles included in the fluid that passes through the microfluidic channel; a lower panel contacting the bottom surface of the porous thin film and the upper panel, a path being provided in the lower panel so as to discharge microbubbles, which pass through the porous thin film, to the outside; and a vacuum-suctioning means for vacuum-suctioning the upper panel and the lower panel such that the microfluidic channel, to which the porous thin film is attached, is attached to the lower panel in a vacuum state.

The present invention relates to an in vitro method for analysing liquid samples as to the presence, identity and properties of a virus comprising: a) analyzing said liquid samples for a virus spectroscopically by means of spontaneous Raman spectroscopy; and b) comparing the spectroscopic data to a database and identifying said virus. The present invention further relates to an in vitro method for analyzing exosomes in a liquid sample of a subject comprising: a) isolating exosomes from the liquid sample; b) analyzing said exosomes spectroscopically by means of spontaneous Raman spectroscopy; and c) obtaining a Raman spectrum for said exosomes. The present invention also refers to a device for analysing a liquid sample as to the presence, identity and properties of viruses; and to a device for analyzing exosomes in a liquid sample. Also envisaged are a method for monitoring a viral infection in a cell or group of cells and a method of monitoring the antiviral treatment effect in a virus infected cell or group of cells, as well as a system comprising said device and a module comprising a database comprising reference values of Raman spectra.

Implementations of a method for seeding sequence libraries on a surface of a sequencing flow cell that allow for spatial segregation of the libraries on the surface are provided. The spatial segregation can be used to index sequence reads from individual sequencing libraries to increase efficiency of subsequent data analysis. In some examples, hydrogel beads containing encapsulated sequencing libraries are captured on a sequencing flow cell and degraded in the presence of a liquid diffusion barrier to allow for the spatial segregation and seeding of the sequencing libraries on the surface of the flow cell. Additionally, examples of systems, methods and compositions are provided relating to flow cell devices configured for nucleic acid library preparation and single cell sequencing. Some examples include flow cell devices having a hydrogel with genetic material disposed therein, and which is retained within the hydrogel during nucleic acid processing.

A pumpless microfluidic system is disclosed that can be used to mimic the interaction of organ systems with the immune system. Also disclosed is a method for mimicking an immune system, comprising culturing a plurality of organ cells and at least one population of immune cells in the disclosed pumpless microfluidic system under physiological conditions. The method can further comprise activating an immune reaction in the pumpless microfluidic system, continuing the culture for a defined period, collecting a sample of culture medium from the system, and assaying the sample for one or more indicators of an immune response.

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 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.

This present disclosure provides devices, systems, and methods for performing point-of-care analysis of a target analyte in a biological fluid via a binding assay. The present disclosure includes a cartridge for collecting the target analyte contained in a fluid sample and performing an assay. The cartridge includes an assay stack having a first separation layer, a second separation layer, and a detection membrane. The cartridge also includes a plurality of first complexes comprising a capture molecule and a magnetic bead and a plurality of second complexes comprising a detection molecule and a detection label. Further, the detection membrane includes a substrate that interacts with the detection label to elicit a quantifiable response in the presence of the target analyte. The quantifiable response corresponds to an amount of detection antibody present in the detection membrane, and the amount of detection antibody present corresponds to an amount of the target analyte present.

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.

The presently disclosed subject matter provides dual-depth thermoplastic microfluidic devices, related kits, microfluidic systems comprising the dual-depth thermoplastic microfluidic device, methods of isolating nucleic acid analytes from a liquid sample, and methods of isolating extracellular vesicles from a liquid sample.