A quartz crystal microbalance coated with functionalized nanoparticles used to detect molecule-nanoparticle interactions to assist with characterization of difficult to predict molecule-nanoparticle interactions for novel ligand chemistries and, particularly, mixed ligand nanoparticles exhibiting different ligand morphologies, in order to quantify nanoparticle-molecule interactions independently from more complex solvation requirements.

The present invention addresses the problem of providing a centrifugal smearing device and a sealed rotating container in which liquid components do not leak to an outside of the sealed rotating container. To solve this problem, in a centrifugal smearing device (30) including a sealed rotating container (34) that houses a chamber (10) with a slide glass removably attached for holding the liquid sample to smear cells in the liquid sample with a centrifugal force onto the slide glass, and a base (31) housing the sealed rotating container (34) and including rotational driving means (32) for rotating the sealed rotating container (34), the sealed rotating container (34) includes a main body (40) capable of housing the chamber (10) and a lid (42) for closing an upper surface opening portion of the main body (40), and has a storage section (46) for storing liquid scattered from the chamber (10) during being centrifuged, formed on an inside face of the main body (40).

A device of immobilising and concentrating cells from cell suspensions by centrifugation using a standard centrifuge having a plurality of centrifuge tubes having respective closing lids, the device comprising: one or more funnel units, each having a broad side and a narrow side, adapted to receive one or more fluids samples; one or more hollow cylinder, having a plurality of external threads on lateral surface of the cylinder, attached at the narrow side of the each of the respective one or more funnel unit, enclosing the narrow side of the respective one or more funnel unit; one or more removable gasket disposed on the narrow side encircling circumference of the narrow side of each of the one or more funnel unit; one or more coverslip holding plate, adapted to hold a respective coverslip, deployed proximal to the circumference of the narrow side of the respective one or more funnel unit; and one or more removable caps having a plurality of internal thread, adapted to enclose the respective one or more coverslip holding plates along with the respective coverslip, configured to fasten over the respective one or more hollow cylinder; wherein the one or more removable gasket is adapted to restrict leaking of the one or more fluid samples inside the one or more funnel units.

An automated specimen preparation system for preparing a specimen from a sample in a sample container is provided. The automated specimen preparation system comprises a specimen transfer device configured for holding a specimen collector thereon and for being positioned within the sample container. The specimen transfer device comprises a central bore having an open distal end and a closed proximal end, a pressure monitoring port fluidly coupled to the central bore at the proximal end of the central bore, and a fluid waste evacuation port fluidly coupled to the proximal end of the central bore. The pressure monitoring port comprises a reduced diameter portion coupled directly to the central bore. The automated specimen preparation system further comprises a vacuum source fluidly coupled to the fluid waste evacuation port, and a pressure monitoring device fluidly coupled to the pressure monitoring port.

The present disclosure relates to a method for manufacturing a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-based substrate for detecting a target substance, by which the surface of a target substance can be easily coated with metal nanoparticles through centrifugation, a substrate for detecting a target substance manufactured thereby, and a method for detecting a target substance using the same.

A quartz crystal microbalance coated with functionalized nanoparticles used to detect molecule-nanoparticle interactions to assist with characterization of difficult to predict molecule-nanoparticle interactions for novel ligand chemistries and, particularly, mixed ligand nanoparticles exhibiting different ligand morphologies, in order to quantify nanoparticle-molecule interactions independently from more complex solvation requirements.

Exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept are directed to devices for facilitating the creation of pathology cell blocks and to methods for creating such cell blocks using said devices. Various cell block preparation devices are described, which cell blocks may be comprised of various media and may be provided with one or multiple wells for receiving and retaining tissue/cell specimens, such as cytology specimens. The tissue/cell specimen laden cell block preparation devices are treated with fixative to produce cell block specimens that are highly amenable to sectioning and subsequent analysis according to known methods. A marker may be integrated into any of the cell block preparation devices to guide a technologist during sectioning and subsequent application of cell block sections to slides for proper orientation of the cell block sections.

Automated liquid handling system for processing a plurality of samples in at least one microscope sample carrier, wherein the microscope sample carrier comprises a plurality of sample deposition wells, wherein each sample deposition well is defined on its lateral sides by one or more lateral walls and on its bottom side by a sample deposition surface, the automated liquid handling system comprising: a centrifuge adapted to centrifuge the microscope sample carrier; an automated transportation device adapted to transfer the plurality of samples and/or a plurality of liquids into and/or out of each of the plurality of sample deposition wells of the microscope sample carrier, and adapted for transporting the microscope sample carrier across the automated liquid handling system, wherein the automated transportation device is configured to couple with a coupling section of the microscope sample carrier; one or more storage containers for receiving and/or storing the plurality of samples and/or the plurality of liquids.

An automated specimen preparation system for preparing a specimen from a sample in a sample container is provided. The automated specimen preparation system comprises a specimen transfer device configured for holding a specimen collector thereon and for being positioned within the sample container. The specimen transfer device comprises a central bore having an open distal end and a closed proximal end, a pressure monitoring port fluidly coupled to the central bore at the proximal end of the central bore, and a fluid waste evacuation port fluidly coupled to the proximal end of the central bore. The pressure monitoring port comprises a reduced diameter portion coupled directly to the central bore. The automated specimen preparation system further comprises a vacuum source fluidly coupled to the fluid waste evacuation port, and a pressure monitoring device fluidly coupled to the pressure monitoring port.

A quartz crystal microbalance coated with functionalized nanoparticles used to detect molecule-nanoparticle interactions to assist with characterization of difficult to predict molecule-nanoparticle interactions for novel ligand chemistries and, particularly, mixed ligand nanoparticles exhibiting different ligand morphologies, in order to quantify nanoparticle-molecule interactions independently from more complex solvation requirements.