Abstract: Compositions and method for reducing the concentration of uremic toxins in the body of a patient suffering from some degree of kidney failure are disclosed. The methods can be used to delay the need for conventional dialysis treatment or as an adjunct therapy to reduce the frequency of dialysis sessions, and in some instances, as an alternative to such dialysis sessions.

Abstract: The present technology generally relates to stopped-flow microfluidic devices. Select embodiments of the present technology include microfluidic devices having a first porous element configured to receive a first fluid and a second porous element configured to receive a second fluid. The second porous element can have one or more legs overlapping with the first porous element. The device can be configured such that (a) delivery of the first fluid to the first porous element causes the first fluid to flow along the length of the first porous element without substantially wetting the one or more legs, and (b) delivery of the second fluid to the second porous element causes the second fluid to flow into the overlapping regions of the first porous element, thereby substantially stopping flow of the first fluid along at least a portion of the first porous element.

Abstract: The present technology is related to methods and compositions for detecting, and optionally quantifying, one or more analytes of a sample using nucleic acids. In some embodiments, the methods include generating a complex of a plurality of peptides, an analyte, a first nucleic acid, and a second nucleic acid, each nucleic acid conjugated to a binder peptide. In addition, an immobilizer peptide can be immobilized to a substrate. If the binder peptides are bound to the analyte, the method further includes hybridizing a segment of the first nucleic acid to a segment of the second nucleic acid and amplifying the hybridized nucleic acids to generate a plurality of amplicons. Moreover, the generated amplicons indicate that one or more analytes has been detected. A number of generated amplicons can be analyzed to quantify one or more of the bound analytes.

Abstract: The present technology relates generally to systems for disrupting biological samples and associated devices and methods. In some embodiments, system includes a vessel configured to receive the biological sample, a permanent magnet configured to be positioned within the vessel, an electromagnet configured to be positioned proximate the vessel, and a current source operably coupled to the electromagnet and configured to transmit an alternating current. In some embodiments, when the biological sample is placed within the vessel and the alternating current is transmitted to the electromagnet, the electromagnet produces an alternating magnetic field that causes the permanent magnet to rotate within the vessel, thereby lysing at least one of the cells of the biological sample.