Devices, systems, and methods for separating cells or vesicles using a thermo-acoustophoretic approach are provided. A microfluidic device can be used for stiffness-based separation of cells or vesicles that otherwise have the same or approximately the same size, shape, and charge, where at least some of the membranes or vesicles have different compositions. The separation can be done by tuning the temperature of the cells or vesicles.

Methods and apparatus providing for the isolation of an unknown mutation from a sample comprising wild type nucleic acids and mutated nucleic acids through the application of time-varying driving fields and periodically varying mobility-altering fields to the sample within in an affinity matrix.

A microfluidic system and method for the recovery of particles; the system comprises at least one standing chamber, at least one outlet, at least one inlet and a moving assembly, which is adapted to move the particles; a fluid is fed from the inlet to the outlet so as to generate a substantially continuous flow of the fluid; a given particle of a group of particles arranged in the collecting chamber is moved selectively with respect to the other particles of the assembly to a release area, in which a dragging force created by the fluid flow is such as to move the particle towards the outlet.

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for a fast thermo-optical characterisation of particles. In particular, the present invention relates to a method and a device to measure the stability of (bio)molecules, the interaction of molecules, in particular biomolecules, with, e.g. further (bio)molecules, particularly modified (bio)molecules, particles, beads, and/or the determination of the length/size (e.g. hydrodynamic radius) of individual (bio)molecules, particles, beads and/or the determination of length/size (e.g. hydrodynamic radius).

Methods and apparatus providing for the isolation of an unknown mutation from a sample comprising wild type nucleic acids and mutated nucleic acids through the application of time-varying driving fields and periodically varying mobility-altering fields to the sample within in an affinity matrix.

An apparatus and method for detecting one or more target molecules includes a hydrophobic substrate, and a sensor. The sensor includes two or more electrodes disposed on the hydrophobic substrate and separated from one another by a gap, a plurality of nanostructures formed on or within an upper surface of each electrode, a plurality of binding molecules attached to the plurality of nanostructures, wherein the plurality of binding molecules are configured to bind with the one or more target molecules, and wherein the upper surface of each electrode and the plurality of nanostructures are hydrophilic, and may further detect two or more analytes with two or more sensors that detect two or more different modalities, such as, electrical, optical fluorescence, optical resonance, magnetic detection, or acoustic waves.

Methods and apparatus providing for the isolation of an unknown mutation from a sample comprising wild type nucleic acids and mutated nucleic acids through the application of time-varying driving fields and periodically varying mobility-altering fields to the sample within in an affinity matrix.

A particle sensing system is for sensing particles entrained in a fluid. The system comprises a flow channel having a longitudinal direction along which the fluid is to be passed, a heating arrangement for heating the fluid and thereby applying a positive thermophoretic force on the fluid in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the flow channel and a first sensor for sensing the particles in the fluid after heating by the heating arrangement. The thermophoretic force increases the concentration of the particles at the first sensor.

Systems and methods are described for propelling a liquid droplet in a Leidenfrost state. A microfluidic device embodiment includes, but is not limited to, a solid structure having a patterned surface, the patterned surface including at least a first patterned region having a first Leidenfrost temperature with respect to a fluid material and a second patterned region having a second Leidenfrost temperature with respect to the fluid, the first patterned region adjacent to the second patterned region, the first patterned region defining a path over which a droplet of the fluid is configured to travel in a Leidenfrost state.

A microfluidic system and method for the recovery of particles; the system comprises at least one standing chamber, at least one outlet, at least one inlet and a moving assembly, which is adapted to move the particles; a fluid is fed from the inlet to the outlet so as to generate a substantially continuous flow of the fluid; a given particle of a group of particles arranged in the collecting chamber is moved selectively with respect to the other particles of the assembly to a release area, in which a dragging force created by the fluid flow is such as to move the particle towards the outlet.