Abstract: A pressure regulator module for a chip-based microfluidic platform is provided. The module includes a microfluidic channel for passing flowable material from the inlet region through the outlet region and into a downstream compartment; one or more microvalves fluidly connected to the microfluidic channel and upstream of the outlet region; and one or more reservoirs fluidly connected to the microvalves, for receiving flowable material diverted by the microvalves, where a flow of flowable material passing from the inlet region toward the downstream compartment is at least partially diverted by the microvalves into the reservoirs as a result of a pressure increase in the microfluidic channel. In some versions, the microvalves are capillary burst valves. A microfluidic chip containing the module and a method of using the module are provided.

Abstract: A microfluidic platform comprising an inlet, a fluidic chamber, one or more trapping arrays, each trapping array comprising pillars separated by gaps, an outlet, and a droplet generator fluidly coupled to the inlet. The droplet generator may accept one or more particles and output particle-laden droplets comprising a particle surrounded by an aqueous solution surrounded by a carrier oil. The particle-laden droplets directed from the droplet generator, through the inlet, to the fluidic chamber, may be immobilized by the one or more trapping arrays. The droplet generator may generate a continuous flow of carrier oil through the inlet and through the fluidic chamber. The continuous flow of carrier oil may induce one or more microvortices at the one or more trapping arrays.

Abstract: Methods and devices for single cell analysis using fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) are disclosed. The methods utilize microfluidic devices which use traps to immobilize cells for FLIM analysis. The analysed cells may be sorted before or after imaging and may be plant, animal, or bacterial cells. Analysis of the FLIM data may use a phasor plot and may be used to identify a metabolic pattern of the single cells.

Abstract: Systems and methods for transfection using a microfluidic device are disclosed. Microdroplets encapsulate cells, transfection molecules, and cationic lipid transfection reagent. Droplet chaotic advection in a rendering channel of the system results in a uniform lipid-DNA complex (lipoplex) formation, which can improve gene delivery efficacy. The shear stress exerted on cell membranes during the chaotic mixing increases membrane permeability, which when combined with the co-confinement of cell and lipoplex, improves transfection efficiency of the cell. The systems and methods can be used for a variety of applications such as gene therapy, in vitro fertilization, regenerative medicine, cancer treatment, and vaccines.

Abstract: A microfluidic sorting device and method employing dielectrophoresis (DEP) induced field flow separations are described herein. The microfluidic sorting device has a microchannel and an array of electrodes disposed along the microchannel. The electrodes may be oriented at an angle relative to the microchannel. Non-mammalian samples such as plant samples flow in the microchannel and through the electrode array. Current is passed through the electrodes causing a DEP force to be exerted on the samples. This force may generate a torque that causes one type of sample to rotate and slide along the electrodes, thus separating the samples by type.

Abstract: Microfluidic devices and methods for co-encapsulation of a cell and a controlled release particle in one droplet are escribed herein. The devices and methods utilize laminar flow, high shear liquid-liquid interfaces, hydrodynamic vortices, and/or acoustic focusing to increase co-encapsulation efficiency. The precise variation of the droplets microenvironment is enabled by the controlled release particle co-encapsulated with the single cell in each droplet. This capability, coupled with established detection methods, provides an important tool for precise, single cell analysis.

Abstract: A method of encapsulating a solid sample in a droplet, the method including flowing a continuous phase through a first fluid channel at a first flow rate; flowing a dispersed phase through a second fluid channel at a second flow rate, the dispersed phase including a plurality of particles, cells or beads; trapping the plurality of particles, cells or beads in a mixing region that receives the dispersed phase and the continuous phase; and reducing the first flow rate to encapsulate the trapped particles, cells or beads in droplets of the dispersed phase generated when the dispersed phase and the continuous phase exit the mixing region through an orifice.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to systems and devices that allow for separation of cells based on size and electric properties and for high-throughput cell sorting. The system may comprise a microfluidic platform having a main microfluidic channel and cavity acoustic transducers (CATs). The microfluidic platform may be coupled to an external acoustic source. The system may further comprise a fluid disposed through the main microfluidic channel comprising cells having different sizes and electric properties. The fluid may intersect the CATs to form one or more interfaces. The system may further comprise electrodes underneath the microfluidic platform. The CATs may oscillate the interfaces to produce one or more microstreaming vortices, such that each microstreaming vortex is capable of selectively trapping cells based on size. The set of electrodes may apply an AC to cause the cells to move relative to the set of electrodes based on electric properties.

Abstract: A passive, hydrodynamic technique implemented using a microfluidic device to perform co-encapsulation of samples in droplets and sorting of said droplets is described herein. The hydrodynamic technique utilizes laminar flows and high shear liquid-liquid interfaces at a microfluidic junction to encapsulate samples in the droplets. A sorting mechanism is implemented to separate sample droplets from empty droplets. This technique can achieve a one-one-one encapsulation efficiency of about 80% and can significantly improve the droplet sequencing and related applications in single cell genomics and proteomics.

Abstract: A multi-layered microfluidic system featuring tissue chambers for cells in a first layer and a plurality of medium channels for culture medium in a second layer. The tissue chambers fluidly connect to the medium channels such that media flows from the medium channels to the tissue chambers, forming large-scale perfused capillary networks. The capillary networks can undergo angiogenesis and vertical anastomosis. The multi-layered configuration of the system of the present invention allows for flexibility in design.

Abstract: A pressure regulator module for a chip-based microfluidic platform is provided. The module includes a microfluidic channel for passing flowable material from the inlet region through the outlet region and into a downstream compartment; one or more microvalves fluidly connected to the microfluidic channel and upstream of the outlet region; and one or more reservoirs fluidly connected to the microvalves, for receiving flowable material diverted by the microvalves, where a flow of flowable material passing from the inlet region toward the downstream compartment is at least partially diverted by the microvalves into the reservoirs as a result of a pressure increase in the microfluidic channel. In some versions, the microvalves are capillary burst valves. A microfluidic chip containing the module and a method of using the module are provided.

Abstract: A method of trapping constituents of interest in a fluid sample flowing through a microfluidic channel by vibrating an interface of the fluid sample and a gas occupying a lateral channel adjacent the microfluidic channel is described. A marker is flowed into the microfluidic channel such that the marker bonds with constituents of interest. The constituents of interest bonded to the marker can help identification of the constituents of interest.

Abstract: A pressure regulator module for a chip-based microfluidic platform is provided. The module includes a microfluidic channel for passing flowable material from the inlet region through the outlet region and into a downstream compartment; one or more microvalves fluidly connected to the microfluidic channel and upstream of the outlet region; and one or more reservoirs fluidly connected to the microvalves, for receiving flowable material diverted by the microvalves, where a flow of flowable material passing from the inlet region toward the downstream compartment is at least partially diverted by the microvalves into the reservoirs as a result of a pressure increase in the microfluidic channel. In some versions, the microvalves are capillary burst valves. A microfluidic chip containing the module and a method of using the module are provided.

Abstract: The present invention features the use of cavity acoustic transducers (CATs) to apply mechanical stimuli on cells. CATs utilize the generated acoustic microstreaming vortices to trap cells and apply tunable shear on them. The present invention may use such a portable, automated, and high throughput device for cell transfection.

Abstract: Microfluidic systems and methods to generate and analyze microcapsules comprising biological sample, such as for example, single cells, cellular contents, microspore, protoplast, are disclosed. The microcapsules comprising the biological sample can be preserved by a polymerization process that forms a hydrogel around the biological sample. The hydrogel microcapsules can be trapped in a trapping array or collected in an output reservoir and subject to one or more assays. The trapping array or the output reservoir can be disposed over a porous layer that can filter the continuous phase (e.g., oil) in which the microcapsules are dispersed in the microfluidic device. The pores of the porous layer are configured to be smaller than the size of the microcapsules to prevent the flow of the microcapsules through the porous layer.

Abstract: The present invention features the use of lateral cavity acoustic transducers (LCATs) to apply mechanical stimuli on cells. LCATs utilize the generated acoustic microstreaming vortices to trap cells and apply tunable shear-induced cell deformation on them. The present invention may use such a portable, automated, and high throughput device for shear-induced cell transfection.

Abstract: Disclosed is a water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) double emulsion including a first water phase, an oil phase and a second water phase, wherein the W/O/W double emulsion is disposed in an isotonic solution, and related methods of making the W/O/W double emulsion. Also disclosed is a method of making an artificial antigen presenting cell including: providing a W/O/W double emulsion that is stored in an isotonic solution, wherein the W/O/W double emulsion includes a peptide associated with a Major Histocompatibility (pMHC) complex or a glycolipid antigen associated with a CD1d molecule, and a costimulatory molecule; and transferring the W/O/W double emulsion to an electrolyte solution, wherein the double emulsion undergoes a morphological transformation to become the artificial antigen presenting cell. Also disclosed is a method of drug delivery including administering to a subject a unilamellar vesicle containing the drug.

Abstract: A microfluidic device having an array for cell trapping is used to analyze cell-cell interaction at single-cell level. The microfluidic trapping array efficiently pairs single cells in isolated compartments in an easy-to-operate manner. A first cell is squeezed through an opening of a first cavity by a strong forward flow. Subsequently, a second cell is pushed into a second cavity by a low reverse flow. The trapped cell pairs are sealed by an oil phase or hydrogel into isolated compartments, thereby eliminating interference from other cell pairs or the surrounding media.

Abstract: Systems and methods for transfection using a microfluidic device are disclosed. Microdroplets encapsulate cells, transfection molecules, and cationic lipid transfection reagent. Droplet chaotic advection in a rendering channel of the system results in a uniform lipid-DNA complex (lipoplex) formation, which can improve gene delivery efficacy. The shear stress exerted on cell membranes during the chaotic mixing increases membrane permeability, which when combined with the co-confinement of cell and lipoplex, improves transfection efficiency of the cell. The systems and methods can be used for a variety of applications such as gene therapy, in vitro fertilization, regenerative medicine, cancer treatment, and vaccines.

Abstract: An interfacial technique utilizes hydrodynamic micro-vortices to perform (i) high efficiency single cell encapsulation and (ii) size-selective capturing of cells based on their sizes in a single microfluidic device. A notable feature of this technique is that it can perform high efficiency single cell encapsulation at low cell concentrations, and this technique is all passive, controlled only by the flow rates of the two phases and does not require complex structures or on-chip active devices. Single bead/cell encapsulation was demonstrated at 50% efficiency, which is at least 10 times greater than the random encapsulations at the introduced cell concentrations. Also demonstrated is the selective trapping of cells based on their sizes. This present technique expands the capabilities of droplet microfluidics for applications ranging from single cell genomics, proteomic assays to sample preparation.