Provided are a method and a device for encapsulating a cell in droplet for single-cell analysis, or a method and a device for forming droplet for single-cell analysis. According to the method and the device of one aspect, by using the effects of inertial ordering, not only a ratio at which one cell is encapsulated in one droplet is increased, but also a yield of generating droplet is improved.

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.

A microfluidic chip having a micro channel for processing a sample is provided. The micro channel may focus the sample by using focusing fluid and a core stream forming geometry. The core stream forming geometry may include a lateral fluid focusing component and one or more vertical fluid focusing components. A microfluidic chip may include a plurality micro channels operating in parallel on a microfluidic chip.

Provided herein, among other aspects, are methods and apparatuses for analyzing particles in a sample. In some aspects, the particles can be analytes, cells, nucleic acids, or proteins and contacted with a tag, partitioned into aliquots, detected by a ranking device, and isolated. The methods and apparatuses provided herein may include a microfluidic chip. In some aspects, the methods and apparatuses may be used to quantify rare particles in a sample, such as cancer cells and other rare cells for disease diagnosis, prognosis, or treatment.

This disclosure provides systems and methods to extend the capabilities of inertial and/or viscoelastic focusing in channels, such as microchannels. The new systems and methods can be integrated with existing microfluidic devices for inertial and/or viscoelastic manipulation of particles that have defied prior attempts, enabling a variety of applications in clinical diagnosis. The particles, e.g., bioparticles and cells, focus into streamlines in the same way and in the same locations as in existing inertial and viscoelastic focusing systems, but at much lower particle Reynolds numbers, much lower shear stress, over much shorter distances, and at lower driving pressures and/or flow rates.

A microfabricated sheath flow structure for producing a sheath flow includes a primary sheath flow channel for conveying a sheath fluid, a sample inlet for injecting a sample into the sheath fluid in the primary sheath flow channel, a primary focusing region for focusing the sample within the sheath fluid and a secondary focusing region for providing additional focusing of the sample within the sheath fluid. The secondary focusing region may be formed by a flow channel intersecting the primary sheath flow channel to inject additional sheath fluid into the primary sheath flow channel from a selected direction. A sheath flow system may comprise a plurality of sheath flow structures operating in parallel on a microfluidic chip.

A microfluidic chip for focussing a stream of particulate containing fluid comprises a sample microfluidic channel configured to receive the stream of particulate containing fluid, a guidance microfluidic channel having a polygonal cross-sectional area and configured to receive a stream of guidance fluid, and a common microfluidic channel having a polygonal cross sectional area formed by the merging of the sample microfluidic channel and the guidance 10 microfluidic channel at an oblique angle along only part of one or more sides of the guidance microfluidic channel, and a detection zone disposed in the common microfluidic channel having one or more sensors. The merging of the sample microfluidic channel and the guidance microfluidic channel is configured to provide a composite fluid stream containing a focussed beam of particulates that is disposed asymmetrically in the common microfluidic channel 15 adjacent a corner or side of the common microfluidic channel and wherein the one or more sensors are configured for sensing a characteristic of the focussed beam of particulates in the common channel.

Described herein are methods inducing the uptake of an agent by a cell. Aspects of the invention relate to physically compressing the cell to induce perturbations (e.g., holes) in the cell membrane or wall. An agent is taken up by the cell through induced perturbations.

A cartridge includes: a first reservoir capable of accommodating a sample liquid; a sheath liquid conduit; a sterilization filter; a mixer; a nozzle; a droplet collection member; and a check valve. The sterilization filter is provided at the sheath liquid conduit. The check valve is connected to a waste-droplet collection member. A sample liquid flow path and a sheath liquid flow path are isolated from a surrounding environment around the cartridge and are maintained in a sterile state. The sample liquid flow path extends from the first reservoir to the droplet collection member. The sheath liquid flow path extends from the sterilization filter to the droplet collection member.

Microfluidic devices and methods for focusing components in a fluid sample are described herein. The microfluidic devices feature a microfluidic chip having a micro-channel having a constricting portion that narrows in width, and a flow focusing region downstream of the micro-channel. The flow focusing region includes a positively sloping bottom surface that reduces a height of the flow focusing region and sidewalls that taper to reduce a width of the flow focusing region, thereby geometrically constricting the flow focusing region. The devices and methods can be utilized in sex-sorting of sperm cells to improve performance and increase eligibility.