Abstract: The present disclosure provides for rapid identification of mechanism of action (MOA) for drugs and toxins, and does so in a rapid (30 days or less) fashion. The methods use a combination of high throughput bioinformatics and pathway analysis that examine a wide variety of biological parametics.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for rapid identification of mechanism of action (MOA) for drugs and toxins, and does so in a rapid (30 days or less) fashion. The methods use a combination of high throughput bioinformatics and pathway analysis that examine a wide variety of biological parametics.

Abstract: The magnetic reversibly attached template (MRAT) are solid devices made of biocompatible material containing a magnetic material. These devices can be made in any shape using microfabrication, milling, and molding and can be positioned and secured using magnetic forces. The applications of the M RAT encompass the patterning of biological and non-biological materials including cells, nucleic acids, peptides, proteins, aqueous solutions, polymers, rubbers, and other reagents on solid surfaces.

Abstract: A flow cytometer. In one embodiment, the flow cytometer has a microfluidic structure defining a channel with a periodically modulated path for transporting a stream of fluid with magnetic particles along the modulated path, and a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) sensor positioned over the microfluidic structure to define a detecting zone in the microfluidic structure for detecting magnetic signatures of a magnetic particle passing along the periodically modulated path through the detecting zone, where in use the stream of fluid with magnetic particles is regulated such that each magnetic particle passes singly along the periodically modulated path through the detecting zone.

Abstract: A bioreactor for cultivating living cells in a liquid medium. In one embodiment of the present invention, the bioreactor has a first substrate having a first surface and an opposite second surface, defining a chamber therebetween for receiving the cells and the liquid medium. The bioreactor further has a barrier dividing the chamber into a first subchamber and a second subchamber, wherein the barrier has a porosity to allow the first subchamber and the second subchamber in fluid communication and allow at least one predetermined type of cells to permeate between the first subchamber and the second subchamber.

Abstract: A bioreactor with substance injection capability. In one embodiment, the bioreactor includes a first substrate having a first surface, an opposite second surface and edges. The bioreactor further includes a second substrate having a first surface and an opposite second surface, defining a cavity with a bottom surface, where the bottom surface is located therebetween the first surface and the second surface. The first surface of the first substrate is received by the second surface of the second substrate to cover the cavity so as to form a chamber for receiving cells and a liquid medium. A port is formed in the second substrate between the bottom surface and the first surface of the second substrate. As formed, the port is in fluid communication with the chamber to allow a stream of substance to be introduced into the chamber. The stream of substance is controlled so as to provide a gradient, or a concentration gradient of the substance, to the chamber.

Abstract: A bioreactor for cultivating living cells in a liquid medium. In one embodiment of the present invention, the bioreactor includes a first substrate having a first surface, an opposite second surface and edges. The bioreactor further includes a second substrate having a first surface and an opposite second surface, defining a cavity with a bottom surface, where the bottom surface is located therebetween the first surface and the second surface. The first surface of the first substrate is received by the second surface of the second substrate to cover the cavity so as to form a channel for receiving cells and a liquid medium. In forming the bioreactor, the channel is sized to allow the growth of a layer of cells on a biocompatible coating layer and a flow of liquid in the channel. The flow of liquid is controlled so as to provide a known shear force to the layer of cells. The flow of liquid can be further controlled so as to provide an environment that simulates a vascular space in the channel.

Abstract: A bioreactor (200) for cultivating living cells in a liquid medium. In one embodiment, the bioreactor (200) has a substrate (230) having a first surface and an opposite second surface, defining a channel (202) therein, and a plurality of chambers (204) formed in the substrate, wherein each of the plurality of chambers (204) is adapted for receiving cells in a liquid medium and formed with an open end (262), an opposite closed end (264) and side walls, the open end (262) and the closed end (264) defining a depth, d, therebetween for the corresponding chamber (206), the sidewalls defining a width, w, therebetween for the corresponding chamber (206). As such formed, each chamber (206) is in fluid communication with the channel (202) through the open end of the chamber (206), and at least two of the plurality of chambers (206) have depths or widths the same or different form each other.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods for using biological material to discriminate an agent. In one embodiment of the present invention, the method includes the steps of providing at least one cell, exposing at least one cell to an agent, measuring the response of the cell to the agent in terms of a physical quantity related to at least one of the cellular physiological activities of the cell, and identifying the agent from the measured response. The method further includes the step of quantifying the agent from the measured response.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods for measuring response of at least one cell to a medium, the response of at least one cell to a medium being characterized by a reaction time. In one embodiment of the present invention, the device includes a membrane and a side substrate defining a sample well in communication with the ambient air and for receiving the at least one cell such that the membrane is underneath the at least one cell. A sensor is positioned underneath the second surface of the membrane, and an inlet is in fluid communication with the sample well. A medium is introduced into the chamber through the inlet to form a droplet that surrounds the cell, and the sensor measures the response of the cell to the medium at a time period shorter than the reaction time.

Abstract: A device and methods for monitoring status of at least one cell, wherein the cell has a membrane forming a substantially enclosed structure and defining an intracellular space therein. In one embodiment of the present invention, the device includes a first substrate having a first surface and an opposite second surface, a second substrate supported by the first substrate, the second substrate having a first surface, an opposite second surface, a body portion between the first surface and the second surface, a first side surface and an opposite second side surface, wherein the body portion defines a first passage between the first side surface and the second side surface and an opening on the first surface of the second substrate and in fluid communication with the first passage, and sidewalls positioned above the first surface of the second substrate.

Abstract: A system and methods for discriminating an agent. In one embodiment of the present invention, the method includes the steps of (a) constructing a decision tree having a plurality of branches, each branch corresponding to at least one defined action, wherein each branch includes a plurality of successive branches, each successive branch corresponding to at least one defined action, (b) providing a conditioned environment sensitive to the agent, (c) obtaining data from response of the agent to the conditioned environment, (d) extracting features from the obtained data, (e) selecting a branch from the decision tree corresponding to the features, (f) performing on the features at least one defined action corresponding to the branch, (g) producing a classification of the agent, and (g) iteratively repeating steps of (d)-(g) until the agent is discriminated.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods for detecting at least one analyte of interest either produced or consumed by a plurality of cell. In one embodiment of the present invention, the method includes the steps of providing a housing defining a chamber, placing a plurality of cells in the chamber, and simultaneously detecting at least two analytes of interest either produced or consumed by the plurality of cells in the chamber.