Contamination detection systems, kits, and techniques are described for testing surfaces for the presence of analytes of interest, including hazardous contaminants, while minimizing user exposure to these contaminants. Even trace amounts of contaminants can be detected. A collection device provides a swab that is simple to use, easy to hold and grip, allows the user to swab large areas of a surface, and keeps the user's hands away from the surface being tested. The collection device also includes a test strip, and provides a closed fluid transfer mechanism to transfer the collected fluid from the swab to the test strip while minimizing user exposure to hazardous contaminants in the collected fluid. Contamination detection kits can rapidly collect and detect hazardous drugs, including trace amounts of antineoplastic agents, in healthcare settings at the site of contamination.

Methods, devices, and systems for performing a plurality of isoelectric focusing reactions in parallel are described. In some instances, the disclosed devices may be designed to perform isoelectric focusing or other separation reactions followed by further characterization of the separated analytes using mass spectrometry. The disclosed methods, devices, and systems provide for fast, accurate separation and characterization of protein analyte mixtures or other biological molecules by isoelectric point.

Provided is an apparatus for cell particle sorting based on microfluidic-chip flow, by using a design in which Dean flow focusing occurring in a spiral channel and hydrodynamic filtration are coupled. The apparatus comprises a first substrate including a spiral channel having an inner surface and an outer surface based on a radius of curvature, a sample solution inlet, a medium inlet, and a spiral inner-outlet and a spiral outer-outlet both for discharging the particles, and a second substrate including a main channel in which the sample solution discharged from the first substrate and passing through an inter-substrate way flows and a cut-off width W.sub.C is set, a side channel allowing a medium introduced into the medium inlet to flow to focus the sample solution on a sidewall of the main channel, a plurality of branch channels connected to the sidewall of main channel and configured to receive the particles from the main channel, a main channel outlet, and at least one branch channel outlet.

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a microfluidic device. The microfluidic device includes an input zone adapted to receive a carrier fluid medium and a sample in suspension in the carrier fluid medium, the sample comprising at least one population of cells or microparticles, a confinement zone adapted to confine a selected amount of the sample, and an output zone adapted to discharge the carrier fluid medium and the sample in suspension in the carrier fluid medium.

Embodiments of the present disclosure can include a method comprising: providing a plurality of cells to a microchannel, the microchannel coated in at least one cell adhesion entity and comprising a compressive surface and a first outlet, the compressive surface defining a compression gap, flowing the plurality of cells through the microchannel, wherein the flowing comprises: compressing the plurality of cells underneath the compressive surface; and exposing the plurality of cells to the at least one cell adhesion entity, wherein the exposing causes a first portion of the cells having a first adhesion property to temporarily bind to the cell adhesion entity; and collecting the first portion of cells at the first outlet; wherein the compression gap has a height of from 75% to 95% an average diameter of the plurality of cells.

The present invention provides a microfluidic structure for sorting targeted substances. The microfluidic structure includes: an inlet portion having at least one fluid input port; an outlet portion having a plurality of fluid output ports; a first annular flow channel communicated with the inlet portion at the upstream end and rotatably extended; and a second annular flow channel communicated with the downstream end of the first annular flow channel at the upstream end, communicated with the outlet portion at the downstream end and rotatably extended. The first annular flow channel and the second annular flow channel are connected in series according to an S-shaped track, so that the outer side wall of the first annular flow channel is continuously connected to the inner side wall of the second annular flow channel. The cross-sections of the first annular flow channel and the second annular flow channel have a height difference.

The present disclosure relates to a microorganism detection apparatus using a dielectrophoresis (DEP) force. A microorganism detection apparatus according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may include a detection unit that detects microbial particles using a DEP force corresponding to latex particles combined with the microbial particles

Provided is a technology for preparing a mixture including multiple types of microparticles in accordance with a predetermined ratio. The present technology provides a microparticle sorting device (100) including a control unit (103) comprising a determination unit that determines whether microparticles are sorted, on the basis of light generated by irradiating, with light, the microparticles flowing through a flow channel (155), in which the determination unit performs a primary sorting determination to determine, on the basis of characteristics of the light generated, whether the microparticles belong to any one of two or more different microparticle populations, and then performs a secondary sorting determination to determine whether the microparticles determined to belong to any one of the microparticle populations in the primary sorting determination are sorted, on the basis of the particle constituent ratio specified for the two or more different microparticle populations. This technology may be used to prepare a cell therapeutic agent comprising a mixture of cells of different types in a predefined ratio, e.g. a mixture of various types of CAR T-cells showing a synergistic anti-tumor activity.

The present disclosure relates to a fluidic device to detect, capture, and/or remove disease material in a biological fluid. The present invention also relates to methods for the treatment/prevention of sepsis through the use of the claimed device.

Devices and methods are provided for the separation and dispensing of material using a microfluidic separation column connected via an exit channel to one or more sheath flow channels. The flow of separated material through the separation column is at least partially driven by a voltage potential between a first electrode within the separation column and a terminating electrode within at least one of the sheath flow channels. The separation column, exit channel, sheath flow channels, and electrodes are all within a single monolithic chip. The presence of an on-chip terminating electrode allows for separated material to be entrained in the sheath fluids and ejected onto a surface that can be non-conductive. The presence of multiple sheath flows allows for sheath flow fluids to have different compositions from one another, while reducing the occurrence of sheath flow fluids entering the separation column.