Abstract: The process for isolating live cells on a filter or extracting their genetic material. The process comprises the steps of attaching, at least temporarily, a filter to a lower opening of a compartment having, in addition, an air inlet; inserting into the compartment a liquid carrying the cells; and attaching, in an impermeable manner, a needle, at least temporarily, to the compartment opening, the filter being positioned between the needle and the interior volume of the compartment. The process further comprises the steps of perforation, with the needle, of a plug of a vacuum tube with negative pressure relative to ambient pressure; and aspiration, by means of negative pressure from the vacuum tube, of the liquid through the filter, the filter retaining the cells.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method for detecting a biomolecule including: immobilizing a nucleic acid aptamer capable of specifically binding to a biomolecule to be detected on the surface of a bead on which fluorophores are arranged; hybridizing the nucleic acid aptamer with a guard nucleic acid (g-nucleic acid) labeled with a quencher to quench fluorescence; and reacting a sample including the biomolecule to be detected with the nucleic acid aptamer and detecting a fluorescence signal emitted as the biomolecule binds with the nucleic acid aptamer and the g-nucleic acid labeled with the quencher is separated, and a device for detecting a biomolecule for conducting the detection method. The present disclosure allows for effective, convenient and fast detection of the biomolecule to be detected, enables quantitative analysis, and enables detection of even a trace amount of sample.

Abstract: Method of detecting molecules, using a sensor having a membrane layer having parallel pores extending through the membrane layer and incorporating therein probe molecules that bind with corresponding target molecules when present in the pores, electrodes, and an ionic solution in contact with the electrodes and the pores, wherein the electrodes are energized to induce an electrical current in the solution through the pores, wherein the electrical current induces an electrical parameter in the electrodes that is indicative of a through-pore electrical impedance of the pores, wherein the through-pore electrical impedance is increased when there is probe-to-target molecule binding in the pores relative to when there is an absence of such binding.

Abstract: Systems and methods for isolating samples are provided. The system comprises a first membrane and a second membrane disposed within an enclosure. First and second reservoirs can also be disposed within the enclosure and adapted to contain one or more reagents therein. A first valve can be disposed within the enclosure and in fluid communication with the first reservoir, the second reservoir, or both. The first valve can also be in fluid communication with the first or second membranes or both. The first valve can be adapted to selectively regulate the flow of the reagents from the first reservoir, through at least one of the first and second membranes, and into the second reservoir.

Abstract: Nanochannel arrays that enable high-throughput macromolecular analysis are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of preparing nanochannel arrays and nanofluidic chips. Methods of analyzing macromolecules, such as entire strands of genomic DNA, are also disclosed, as well as systems for carrying out these methods.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of measuring an acoustic impedance of a respiratory system. The method comprises selecting a frequency range for an acoustic wave, directing the acoustic wave into the respiratory system and receiving an acoustic wave from the respiratory system. The method also comprises determining the acoustic impedance for a plurality of volumes or volume ranges of the respiratory system. Each volume, or the volumes within each volume range, is larger than RV or FRC and smaller than TLC whereby the determined acoustic impedances are specific for respective volumes or volume ranges. Further, the method includes determining a volume, or volume range, dependency of the acoustic impedance of the respiratory system and characterizing the respiratory system by analyzing the dependency of the acoustic impedance on the volume or volume range.

Abstract: A method of communicating with an ingestible capsule includes detecting the location of the ingestible capsule, focusing a multi-sensor acoustic array on the ingestible capsule, and communicating an acoustic information exchange with the ingestible capsule via the multi-sensor acoustic array. The ingestible capsule includes a sensor that receives a stimulus inside the gastrointestinal tract of an animal, a bidirectional acoustic information communications module that transmits an acoustic information signal containing information from the sensor, and an acoustically transmissive encapsulation that substantially encloses the sensor and communications module, wherein the acoustically transmissive encapsulation is of ingestible size. The multi-sensor array includes a plurality of acoustic transducers that receive an acoustic signal from a movable device, and a plurality of delays, wherein each delay is coupled to a corresponding acoustic transducer.

Abstract: The present invention provides, among other things, methods and compositions for encoding a substrate for detecting and quantifying target nucleic acids.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for an ingestible sensor device are described. The ingestible sensor devices may be swallowed by an animal to diagnose one or more conditions of the animal. The ingestible sensor device may include a sensor configured to receive a stimulus inside the gastrointestinal tract of an animal, wherein the sensor is configured to output a signal having a characteristic proportional to the received stimulus. The ingestible sensor device may further include a communications module that transmits a signal modulated with the sensor output signal and a housing configured to have a size that is swallowable, wherein the housing substantially encloses the sensor and communications module.

Abstract: A rapid diagnostic system that delivers a panel of serologic assay results using a small amount of blood, serum, or plasma is described. The system includes a disposable cartridge and a reader instrument, based on planar waveguide imaging technology. The cartridge incorporates a microarray of recombinant antigens and antibody controls in a fluidic channel, providing multiple parallel fluorescence assay results for a single sample.

Abstract: A method that modifies surface properties of a substrate by manipulating the immobilized biomolecules in mild biological condition. The manipulation comprised steps of: providing a biomolecule combined with at least one ssDNA combined with a first protein through an affinity binding tag; adding a second ssDNA conjugated with a second protein with a concentration greater than that of the first protein; and replacing the first protein on the ssDNA with the second protein through chemical competitive principle. The invention may comprise the steps with proper design of biotinylated DNA probes, the functionalized ssDNA nanotemplates can be recovered to its unbound state through a thermodynamic principle.

Abstract: The present invention discloses the integration of programmable microfluidic circuits to achieve practical applications to process biochemical and chemical reactions and to integrate these reactions. In some embodiments workflows for biochemical reactions or chemical workflows are combined. Microvalves such as programmable microfluidic circuit with Y valves and flow through valves are disclosed. In some embodiments microvalves of the present invention are used for mixing fluids, which may be part of an integrated process. These processes include mixing samples and moving reactions to an edge or reservoir for modular microfluidics, use of capture regions, and injection into analytical devices on separate devices. In some embodiments star and nested star designs, or bead capture by change of cross sectional area of a channel in a microvalve are used. Movement of samples between temperature zones are further disclosed using fixed temperature and movement of the samples by micropumps.

Abstract: A monitoring device for monitoring a therapy device, for example, an anesthesia device or a respirator, is provided by which an alarm device for triggering an alarm when the value drops beyond a warning limit (4) is automatically activated when a determined therapy parameter drops beyond this warning limit (4). The warning limit (4) is set automatically in this case. In addition, a therapy device monitored by the monitoring device and especially an anesthesia device as well as a respirator are provided. A process for triggering an alarm as well as a process for treating a patient is also provided.

Abstract: A method of reading a plurality of encoded microvessels used in an assay for biological or chemical analysis. The method can include providing a plurality of encoded microvessels. The microvessels can include a respective microbody and a reservoir core configured to hold a substance in the reservoir core. The microbody can include a material that surrounds the reservoir core and facilitates detection of a characteristic of the substance within the reservoir core. Optionally, the material can be transparent so as to facilitate detection of an optical characteristic of a substance within the reservoir core. The microbody can include an identifiable code associated with the substance. The method can also include determining the corresponding codes of the microvessels.

Abstract: Composite particles and methods of synthesizing a composite particle are disclosed, in particular, methods of synthesizing a composite particle comprising a dielectric component, a magnetic component, and a gold shell are disclosed. Further disclosed herein are methods of detecting a target compound using the composite particles of the present invention. Also disclosed are photonic crystals that can be manipulated with an external magnetic field comprising the composite particles of the present invention.

Abstract: Detection of miniscule amounts of nucleic acid is accomplished via binding of target nucleic acid to probe material, composed of nucleic acid, which is bound to a sensor configured to sense mass. The sensor is prepared by immobilizing a probe material to a surface of the sensor, wherein the probe material is known to bind to the target nucleic acid. The prepared sensor is exposed to the target nucleic acid. The target nucleic acid binds to the probe material. The mass accumulated on the sensor reflects the amount of target nucleic acid bound to the probe material.

Abstract: We disclose quality controls methods that allow quick and accurate verification of a test oligonucleotide deposited on a solid support. It is especially useful for the verification of oligonucleotides representing alleles of a multi-allelic locus. It employs single base extension, with labeled dideoxynucleotides, to locate and verify the identity of test oligonucleotides. This approach involves synthesizing a complement probe oligonucleotide for each oligonucleotide being tested. Probe oligonucleotides are optionally grouped. They are then hybridized to test oligonucleotides, and the hybridized pair is subject to single base extension and detection. It requires the presence of one unique base, either in the last two bases at the free hanging end of the test oligonucleotide—as opposed to the end anchored to the solid support surface, or in the last two bases at one end of the probe oligonucleotide.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to methods and composition for generating nanoscale devices, systems, and enzyme factories based upon a nucleic acid nanostructure the can be designed to have a predetermined structure.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and compositions for the use of microsphere arrays to detect and quantify a number of nucleic acid reactions. The invention finds use in genotyping, i.e. the determination of the sequence of nucleic acids, particularly alterations such as nucleotide substitutions (mismatches) and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Similarly, the invention finds use in the detection and quantification of a nucleic acid target using a variety of amplification techniques, including both signal amplification and target amplification. The methods and compositions of the invention can be used in nucleic acid sequencing reactions as well. All applications can include the use of adapter sequences to allow for universal arrays.

Abstract: In some embodiments, DNA-capped nanoparticles are used to define a degree of crystalline order in assemblies thereof. In some embodiments, thermodynamically reversible and stable body-centered cubic (bcc) structures, with particles occupying <˜10% of the unit cell, are formed. Designs and pathways amenable to the crystallization of particle assemblies are identified. In some embodiments, a plasmonic crystal is provided. In some aspects, a method for controlling the properties of particle assemblages is provided. In some embodiments a catalyst is formed from nanoparticles linked by nucleic acid sequences and forming an open crystal structure with catalytically active agents attached to the crystal on its surface or in interstices.