Abstract: Provided herein are methods of activating immune cells. The method includes providing a population of immune cells and contacting the population of immune cells with a first agent and a second agent. The first agent includes an immune cell activator attached to a first binder moiety, and the second agent includes at least one capture oligomer. The at least one capture oligomer is capable of associating with the first binder moiety. Also provided are kits for activating immune cells.

Abstract: Described are multi-functional beads and methods to capture rare cells directly from low-volume biological samples and perform both functional and genomic assays from those cells. This is accomplished using a multifunctional capture bead that allows co-localization of both the single cell capture element and the molecular assay components. When combined with a digital microfluidic platform this enables encoding and/or barcoding of specific single cells.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of activating immune cells. The method includes providing a population of immune cells and contacting the population of immune cells with a first agent and a second agent. The first agent includes an immune cell activator attached to a first binder moiety, and the second agent includes at least one capture oligomer. The at least one capture oligomer is capable of associating with the first binder moiety. Also provided are kits for activating immune cells.

Abstract: A solid substrate for the extraction, stabilization, and storage of proteins is provided. The substrate includes: a polysaccharide, such as melezitose under a substantially dry state. The substrate is configured to extract proteins from a sample and stabilize the extracted proteins in a dry format under ambient conditions for a prolonged period of time. Methods for collecting and recovering the proteins stored in the dry solid substrate are also described.

Abstract: A method for purification of a target in a solution includes providing a target in a solution, the solution comprising one or more contaminants, providing a polymer conjugate in the solution, wherein the polymer conjugate is configured to specifically bind the target, incubating the solution at a first temperature to facilitate binding of the polymer conjugate to the target, providing an environmentally-responsive block copolymer in the solution, wherein the environmentally-responsive block copolymer comprises one or more of an ethylene oxide (EO), a propylene oxide (PO), or an EO/PO block copolymer, and heating the solution comprising the environmentally-responsive block copolymer and the polymer conjugate bound to the target at a second temperature to initiate a liquid-liquid phase separation, wherein the liquid-liquid phase separation produces an aqueous phase and a liquid polymer phase, and wherein the liquid polymer phase comprises the polymer conjugate bound to the target.

Abstract: Provided are methods and kits for activating T cells, the method comprising providing a population of T cells, adding a plurality of first agents, where the first agent comprises a T-cell activator and a first binder moiety, and adding a second agent comprising a plurality of capture oligomers, where at least a segment of at least one of the plurality of capture oligomers is capable of associating with the first binder moiety. The method further comprises incubating the population of T cells, whereby at least a portion of the population of T cells is activated.

Abstract: A method for purification of a target in a solution includes providing a target in a solution, the solution comprising one or more contaminants, providing a polymer conjugate in the solution, wherein the polymer conjugate is configured to specifically bind the target, incubating the solution at a first temperature to facilitate binding of the polymer conjugate to the target, providing an environmentally-responsive block copolymer in the solution, wherein the environmentally-responsive block copolymer comprises one or more of an ethylene oxide (EO), a propylene oxide (PO), or an EO/PO block copolymer, and heating the solution comprising the environmentally-responsive block copolymer and the polymer conjugate bound to the target at a second temperature to initiate a liquid-liquid phase separation, wherein the liquid-liquid phase separation produces an aqueous phase and a liquid polymer phase, and wherein the liquid polymer phase comprises the polymer conjugate bound to the target.

Abstract: Provided are methods and kits for activating T cells, the method comprising providing a population of T cells, adding a plurality of first agents, where the first agent comprises a T-cell activator and a first binder moiety, and adding a second agent comprising a plurality of capture oligomers, where at least a segment of at least one of the plurality of capture oligomers is capable of associating with the first binder moiety. The method further comprises incubating the population of T cells, whereby at least a portion of the population of T cells is activated.

Abstract: Provided herein are aptamer-polymer conjugates which are responsive to environmental stimuli and are useful in selective purification of untagged target polypeptides.

Abstract: Described are multi-functional beads and methods to capture rare cells directly from low-volume biological samples and perform both functional and genomic assays from those cells. This is accomplished using a multifunctional capture bead that allows co-localization of both the single cell capture element and the molecular assay components. When combined with a digital microfluidic platform this enables encoding and/or barcoding of specific single cells.

Abstract: A solid substrate for the extraction, stabilization, and storage of proteins is provided. The substrate includes: a polysaccharide, such as melezitose under a substantially dry state. The substrate is configured to extract proteins from a sample and stabilize the extracted proteins in a dry format under ambient conditions for a prolonged period of time. Methods for collecting and recovering the proteins stored in the dry solid substrate are also described.

Abstract: A solid substrate for the extraction, stabilization, and storage of proteins is provided. The substrate includes: a polysaccharide, such as melezitose under a substantially dry state. The substrate is configured to extract proteins from a sample and stabilize the extracted proteins in a dry format under ambient conditions for a prolonged period of time. Methods for collecting and recovering the proteins stored in the dry solid substrate are also described.

Abstract: A solid substrate for the extraction, stabilization, and storage of proteins is provided. The substrate includes: a polysaccharide, such as melezitose under a substantially dry state. The substrate is configured to extract proteins from a sample and stabilize the extracted proteins in a dry format under ambient conditions for a prolonged period of time. Methods for collecting and recovering the proteins stored in the dry solid substrate are also described.

Abstract: Methods and kits for binding and releasing biological targets, comprising, a binder having an environmentally reactive molecular switch that can switch between a high affinity state, to bind the target, to a low affinity state, to release the target. In one embodiment, the binder is a pre-existing chemical sequence, composition, or structural configuration but unknown or unspecified and still viable as a binder for attaching a molecular switch.

Abstract: Methods and kits for binding and releasing biological targets, comprising, a binder comprising an environmentally reactive molecular switch that can switch between a high affinity state, to bind the target, to a low affinity state, to release the target.

Abstract: Methods for introducing fluorine atom onto a polypeptide are provided. Also provided are linkers, bioconjugates, and bifunctional compound agents made using the methods, linkers, and bioconjugates. The methods comprise: (i) providing a linker comprising a thiol-reactive terminus and an aldehyde-reactive terminus; (ii) reacting the thiol-reactive terminus of the linker with a polypeptide comprising at least one thiol group or a reactive derivative thereof; and (iii) subsequently reacting the aldehyde-reactive terminus of the linker with a fluorine-substituted aldehyde.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for introducing fluorine atom onto a biomolecule comprising: (i) providing a linker comprising a thiol-reactive terminus and an azido/alkyne-reactive terminus; (ii) reacting the thiol-reactive terminus of the linker with a biomolecule comprising at least one thiol group or a reactive derivative thereof; and (iii) subsequently reacting the azido/alkyne-reactive terminus of the linker with a fluorine-substituted azide or alkyne respectively. Also provided are compositions and method of synthesis of bifunctional linkers and bioconjugates as well as radio-diagnostic agents comprising fluorine-labeled biomolecules.

Abstract: Methods for introducing fluorine atom onto a polypeptide are provided. Also provided are linkers, bioconjugates, and bifunctional compound agents made using the methods, linkers, and bioconjugates. The methods comprise: (i) providing a linker comprising a thiol-reactive terminus and an aldehyde-reactive terminus; (ii) reacting the thiol-reactive terminus of the linker with a polypeptide comprising at least one thiol group or a reactive derivative thereof; and (iii) subsequently reacting the aldehyde-reactive terminus of the linker with a fluorine-substituted aldehyde.

Abstract: Methods for introducing fluorine atom onto a polypeptide are provided. Also provided are linkers, bioconjugates, and bifunctional compound agents made using the methods, linkers, and bioconjugates. The methods comprise: (i) providing a linker comprising a thiol-reactive terminus and an aldehyde-reactive terminus; (ii) reacting the thiol-reactive terminus of the linker with a polypeptide comprising at least one thiol group or a reactive derivative thereof; and (iii) subsequently reacting the aldehyde-reactive terminus of the linker with a fluorine-substituted aldehyde.

Abstract: Methods and kits for binding and releasing biological targets, comprising, a binder comprising an environmentally reactive molecular switch that can switch between a high affinity state, to bind the target, to a low affinity state, to release the target.