Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for selective capture and release of target particles, e.g., living cells, from liquid samples, e.g., blood, are provided. The particle capture systems include a substrate; a first layer of gelatin bound to the substrate by physical adsorption, wherein the gelatin is functionalized with a plurality of first members of a binding pair; a second layer of gelatin wherein the gelatin is functionalized with a plurality of the first members of the binding pair and the second layer is bound to the first layer via a plurality of second members of the binding pair that are associated with the first members of the binding pair on both the first and the second layers; and a plurality of nanostructures bound to the second members of the binding pair and to one or more particle-binding moieties that selectively bind to the target particles.

Abstract: Methods and systems for characterizing extracellular vesicular biomarkers using a biochip with gold nanoparticles. The biochip includes a glass surface, a gold film layer on the glass surface, a plurality of gold nanoparticles coupled to the gold film layer, and a plurality of biotinylated antibodies coupled to the gold nanoparticles. In some implementations, the gold film layer of the biochip is coated with polyethylene glycol (PEG). The biotinylated antibodies are selected to capture specific types of extracellular vesicles. PD-L1/PD-1 proteins and RNAs in extracellular vesicles were characterized for cancer immunotherapy.

Abstract: Systems and techniques are described for capturing target extracellular vesicles from a fluid sample. In some implementations, a microfluidic device includes a microfluidic channel where an internal surface of at least one wall of the microfluidic channel includes a plurality of grooves or ridges, or both grooves and ridges, arranged and configured to generate chaotic mixing within a fluid sample flowing through the microfluidic channel. The microfluidic device also includes a plurality of elongate flexible linker molecules, each having a molecular weight between about 1.8-4.8 kDa, where each elongate flexible linker molecule is bound at a first end to an internal surface of at least one wall of the microfluidic channel and is bound at a second end to one or more binding moieties that specifically bind to a target extracellular vesicle.

Abstract: Methods for purifying and isolating extracellular vesicles (EVs) from a biofluid using a sequential processing. Tangential flow filtration is applied to the biofluid to increase the concentration of EVs in the biofluid. After this is achieved, enrichment mode is halted and the biofluid is processed in diafiltration mode to remove contaminants (up to 99.9%). After performing the tangential flow filtration step, the concentration of EVs in the biofluid is further increased by ultracentrifugal filtration. After performing the ultracentrifugal filtration step, EVs of a particular target type are separated from other EVs by immunomagnetic affinity separation. In some implementations, the methods are used to isolate and quantify tumor EVs for cancer evaluation. Additionally, these methods can be used with a scaling factor to quantify EVs from a less concentrated biofluid such as, for example, urine.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for selective capture and release of target particles, e.g., living cells, from liquid samples, e.g., blood, are provided. The particle capture systems include a substrate; a first layer of gelatin bound to the substrate by physical adsorption, wherein the gelatin is functionalized with a plurality of first members of a binding pair; a second layer of gelatin wherein the gelatin is functionalized with a plurality of the first members of the binding pair and the second layer is bound to the first layer via a plurality of second members of the binding pair that are associated with the first members of the binding pair on both the first and the second layers; and a plurality of nanostructures bound to the second members of the binding pair and to one or more particle-binding moieties that selectively bind to the target particles.

Abstract: Methods and systems for isolating platelet-associated nucleated target cells, e.g., such as circulating epithelial cells, circulating tumor cells (CTCs), circulating endothelial cells (CECs), circulating stem cells (CSCs), neutrophils, and macrophages, from sample fluids, e.g., biological fluids, such as blood, bone marrow, plural effusions, and ascites fluid, are described. The methods include obtaining a cell capture chamber including a plurality of binding moieties bound to one or more walls of the chamber, wherein the binding moieties specifically bind to platelets; flowing the sample fluid through the cell capture chamber under conditions that allow the binding moieties to bind to any platelet-associated nucleated target cells in the sample to form complexes; and separating and collecting platelet-associated nucleated target cells from the complexes.

Abstract: Systems and techniques are described for capturing target extracellular vesicles from a fluid sample. In some implementations, a microfluidic device includes a microfluidic channel where an internal surface of at least one wall of the microfluidic channel includes a plurality of grooves or ridges, or both grooves and ridges, arranged and configured to generate chaotic mixing within a fluid sample flowing through the microfluidic channel. The microfluidic device also includes a plurality of elongate flexible linker molecules, each having a molecular weight between about 1.8-4.8 kDa, where each elongate flexible linker molecule is bound at a first end to an internal surface of at least one wall of the microfluidic channel and is bound at a second end to one or more binding moieties that specifically bind to a target extracellular vesicle.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for selective capture and release of target particles, e.g., living cells, from liquid samples, e.g., blood, are provided. The particle capture systems include a substrate; a first layer of gelatin bound to the substrate by physical adsorption, wherein the gelatin is functionalized with a plurality of first members of a binding pair; a second layer of gelatin wherein the gelatin is functionalized with a plurality of the first members of the binding pair and the second layer is bound to the first layer via a plurality of second members of the binding pair that are associated with the first members of the binding pair on both the first and the second layers; and a plurality of nanostructures bound to the second members of the binding pair and to one or more particle-binding moieties that selectively bind to the target particles.

Abstract: Methods and systems for isolating platelet-associated nucleated target cells, e.g., such as circulating epithelial cells, circulating tumor cells (CTCs), circulating endothelial cells (CECs), circulating stem cells (CSCs), neutrophils, and macrophages, from sample fluids, e.g., biological fluids, such as blood, bone marrow, plural effusions, and ascites fluid, are described. The methods include obtaining a cell capture chamber including a plurality of binding moieties bound to one or more walls of the chamber, wherein the binding moieties specifically bind to platelets; flowing the sample fluid through the cell capture chamber under conditions that allow the binding moieties to bind to any platelet-associated nucleated target cells in the sample to form complexes; and separating and collecting platelet-associated nucleated target cells from the complexes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions for encapsulation of biomaterials in a silica-matrix. The present invention includes a composition for formation of a silica-matrix encapsulated biomaterial. The composition includes a reactive silicon compound and a biomaterial with a catalytic activity. When encapsulated in the silica-matrix, the biomaterial at least partially retains its catalytic activity. The present invention also relates to methods of making silica-matrix encapsulated biomaterials, and to methods of using silica-matrix encapsulated biomaterials, including methods of treating water or gas using the silica-matrix encapsulated biomaterials.

Abstract: Methods and systems for isolating platelet-associated nucleated target cells, e.g., such as circulating epithelial cells, circulating tumor cells (CTCs), circulating endothelial cells (CECs), circulating stem cells (CSCs), neutrophils, and macrophages, from sample fluids, e.g., biological fluids, such as blood, bone marrow, plural effusions, and ascites fluid, are described. The methods include obtaining a cell capture chamber including a plurality of binding moieties bound to one or more walls of the chamber, wherein the binding moieties specifically bind to platelets; flowing the sample fluid through the cell capture chamber under conditions that allow the binding moieties to bind to any platelet-associated nucleated target cells in the sample to form complexes; and separating and collecting platelet-associated nucleated target cells from the complexes.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are synthetic silica-based ocular devices fabricated from a composite material comprising silica and a fibrillar protein, together with methods of making and using the ocular devices.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are synthetic silica-based ocular devices fabricated from a composite material comprising silica and a fibrillar protein, together with methods of making and using the ocular devices.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions for encapsulation of biomaterials in a silica-matrix. The present invention also provides methods of making silica-matrix encapsulated biomaterials, and to methods of using silica-matrix encapsulated biomaterials. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method of encapsulating mammalian cells in a silica-matrix while maintaining metabolic activity. In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of purifying cancer cells using a silica-matrix.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for selective capture and release of target particles, e.g., living cells, from liquid samples, e.g., blood, are provided. The particle capture systems include a substrate; a first layer of gelatin bound to the substrate by physical adsorption, wherein the gelatin is functionalized with a plurality of first members of a binding pair; a second layer of gelatin wherein the gelatin is functionalized with a plurality of the first members of the binding pair and the second layer is bound to the first layer via a plurality of second members of the binding pair that are associated with the first members of the binding pair on both the first and the second layers; and a plurality of nanostructures bound to the second members of the binding pair and to one or more particle-binding moieties that selectively bind to the target particles.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions for encapsulation of biomaterials in a silica-matrix. The present invention also provides methods of making silica-matrix encapsulated biomaterials, and to methods of using silica-matrix encapsulated biomaterials. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method of encapsulating mammalian cells in a silica-matrix while maintaining metabolic activity. In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of purifying cancer cells using a silica-matrix.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions for encapsulation of biomaterials in a silica-matrix. The present invention includes a composition for formation of a silica-matrix encapsulated biomaterial. The composition includes a reactive silicon compound and a biomaterial with a catalytic activity. When encapsulated in the silica-matrix, the biomaterial at least partially retains its catalytic activity. The present invention also relates to methods of making silica-matrix encapsulated biomaterials, and to methods of using silica-matrix encapsulated biomaterials, including methods of treating water or gas using the silica-matrix encapsulated biomaterials.