Devices, systems, and methods for charging fluids are disclosed. The charging of fluids improves the mixing of fluids in microfluidic systems. The charging is performed by producing an ion field between an ionizing electrode and an opposed ground electrode. A fluid-containing vessel is positioned between the opposed electrodes and the ion field charges the fluid in the vessel.

A microfluidic chip, device, system, the use thereof and method for the generation of aqueous droplets in emulsion oil for nucleic acid amplification.

The present invention provides a microfluidic system, method and kit for performing assays. The system may comprise a microfluidic device and a detector, wherein the assay yields results that may be read by a detector and analyzed by the system. The assay may comprise one or more chemical or biological reaction against, or performed on, a sample or multiple samples. The sample(s) may become larger and/or smaller during the performance of the assay. The sample(s) may be present within a vehicle, or on a carrier within a vehicle, in the microfluidic device, and wherein the vehicle may become larger and/or smaller during the performance of the assay. The assay may be a cascading assay comprising a series of multiple assays, wherein each assay may be the same or different, and wherein each assay in the series of multiple assays may further comprise one or more process or step.

The invention comprises a novel modular, generalizable meso-micro-nano-fluidic platform apparatus, design and methodology which in exemplary embodiments may be applied in conjunction with a novel external triggering and automation/feedback loop control mechanism deployed via computer to explore the phase space of single or double emulsification for applications including the encapsulation of hydrophilic active pharmacological ingredients (APIs). End use applications include the mass production of particulate encapsulation of hydrophobic or hydrophilic APIs with automatic or user-supervised feedback methodology to control and discover mass production or per-drug customized settings of interest for the manufacture of novel or extant therapeutics. This invention allows for a process to produce monodispersed particles of varying sizes and may be used to rapidly screen for optimal size for maximal bioavailability of API particles either on lab bench for in vitro dissolution or in vivo studies, and patient-specific handhelds for maximal drug inhalation.

The present disclosure provides methods, devices, systems and compositions for detecting nucleic acids in polymerase chain reaction assays, such as droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) assays. The present disclosure provides methods, devices, systems and compositions for detecting nucleic acids in ddPCR assays using intercalating dyes. A dual surfactant system with at least one fluorosurfactant and at least one non-ionic non-fluorosurfactant may be employed for droplet generation and nucleic acid detection.

Disclosed is a triboelectric nanogenerator-based biochemical droplet reaction device, which includes a reaction generating part and a power generation part. The power generation part includes a triboelectric component and a rectifier circuit. The triboelectric component includes a drive electrode, a substrate, a first friction electrode, a first friction material, a second friction material, and a second friction electrode arranged in sequence from top to bottom. A gap exists between the first friction material and the second friction material. The first friction electrode is connected to the first friction material. The second friction electrode is connected to the second friction material. The drive electrode, the first friction electrode, and the second friction electrode are all connected to the rectifier circuit. Also disclosed is a reaction method.

A microfluidic apparatus for separating a droplet of an emulsion in a microfluidic environment is described. The microfluidic apparatus includes a flow cell comprising a first microfluidic channel configured for flowing a first fluid through the flow cell and a second microfluidic channel configured for flowing a stream of a second fluid through the flow cell. The microfluidic apparatus further comprises a first electrode positioned at the first microfluidic channel and a second electrode positioned at the second microfluidic channel on an opposite side of the interface with respect to the first electrode. The first electrode, the second electrode, and the first and second microfluidic channels are configured to generate a non-uniform electric field gradient in the microfluidic apparatus.

A fluid supply system configured for supplying fluids includes a fluid packet supply unit configured for controlling supply of a sequence of fluid packets. The fluid packets include a packet of first fluid and a packet of second fluid, wherein the first fluid and the second fluid are media being prone to a phase separation upon direct interaction between the packet of first fluid and the packet of second fluid. The fluid supply system further includes a phase separation inhibiting unit configured for inhibiting phase separation by inserting an intermediate fluid packet between the packet of first fluid and the packet of second fluid.

System configured to conduct designated reactions for biological or chemical analysis. The system includes a liquid-exchange assembly comprising an assay reservoir for holding a first liquid, a receiving cavity for holding a second liquid that is immiscible with respect to the first liquid, and an exchange port fluidically connecting the assay reservoir and the receiving cavity. The system also includes a pressure activator that is operably coupled to the assay reservoir of the liquid-exchange assembly. The pressure activator is configured to repeatedly exchange the first and second liquids by (a) flowing a designated volume of the first liquid through the exchange port into the receiving cavity and (b) flowing a designated volume of the second liquid through the exchange port into the assay reservoir. The system also includes a fluidic system that is in flow communication with the liquid-exchange assembly.

The invention describes a method for isolating one or more genetic elements encoding a gene product having a desired activity, comprising the steps of: (a) compartmentalising genetic elements into microcapsules; and (b) sorting the genetic elements which express the gene product having the desired activity; wherein at least one step is under microfluidic control. The invention enables the in vitro evolution of nucleic acids and proteins by repeated mutagenesis and iterative applications of the method of the invention.