Abstract: A molecular point-of-care testing (POCT) diagnostic device for molecular detection of various diseases with “sample-in-result-out” principle is provided. The device has a sample tube in which a test sample is mixed with a sample buffer, a microfluidic-based reaction tube with a simple flow-based system for amplifying the sample buffer mixed with the test sample to form an amplified result, and a closed-system, disposable result interpretation using colorimetric- or lateral flow assay-based for assaying the amplified result. The device is portable and simple to use, which can help bring laboratory detection to the field.

Abstract: Provided is a confined migration microfluidic device for cell culture and drug screening, including a chip including a plurality of parallel channels, where each pair of it is connected through a plurality of the confined migration channels; a depth of the confined migration channel is lower than the first channel and second channel; a first/second inlet and a first/second outlet are provided at two ends of the first/second channel, respectively; and a pyramid-like structure for diverging flow to the first channels to ensure evenly distribution. During the usage, cells to be cultured are added into one of the first channel and the second channel, and drugs or cells which can influence confined migration of the target cells are added into the other channel; the inhibitory effect of the drugs or cells on the confined migration will be evaluated, thereby screening/studying effective drugs and cells in relation to the confined migration.

Abstract: There is disclosed a composition in the form of a nanoparticle. The nanoparticle composition has a diameter from 5 to 500 nanometers. The nanoparticle composition has i) a central core portion including magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles adapted to act as a heat source when subjected to a magnetic field and a chemotherapeutic agent configured to treat cancer tissues, ii)—a shell portion including a shell member encapsulating said core portion, and iii)—antibodies configured to target cancer stem cells and adhered to surface of said shell member. The chemotherapeutic agent is a heat shock protein inhibitor and is releasable on activation of the heat source due to the magnetic field, and the shell member is made of silica or a silica based material.

Abstract: There is disclosed a composition in the form of a nanoparticle. The nanoparticle composition has a diameter from 5 to 500 nanometers. The nanoparticle composition has i) a central core portion including magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles adapted to act as a heat source when subjected to a magnetic field and a chemotherapeutic agent configured to treat cancer tissues, ii)—a shell portion including a shell member encapsulating said core portion, and iii)—antibodies configured to target cancer stem cells and adhered to surface of said shell member. The chemotherapeutic agent is a heat shock protein inhibitor and is releasable on activation of the heat source due to the magnetic field, and the shell member is made of silica or a silica based material.

Abstract: There is provided a nanoparticle composition comprising a central core portion including magnetic nanoparticles adapted to act as a heat source and a chemotherapeutic agent configured to treat cancer tissues in issue, a shell portion including a shell member encapsulating the core portion, antibodies configured to target cancer stem cells in issue and adhered to surface of said shell member. There is also provided a method comprising a step of exposing a target site in which the cancer cells reside to an energy source for effecting elevation of temperature of the magnetic nanoparticles, and release of the chemotherapeutic agent from the shell portion for destroying the cancer cells of the composition-cancer cell complex in the target site, wherein the energy source is an alternating magnetic field whereby extent of elevation of temperature and release of the chemotherapeutic agent is controllable by the alternating magnetic field.

Abstract: A sensor is provided for the detection of a marker in a sample in which the sensor includes a high frequency 500 kHz-1 GHz piezoelectric ceramic resonator, with the system measuring resonant frequency change. In one embodiment, the piezoelectric sensor operates in the thickness extensional (TE) mode, with the high frequency and TE mode permitting fabrication of an exceptionally small size sensor capable of being arrayed in a handheld unit.

Abstract: This invention relates to apparatus and methods for on-chip monitoring of cellular reactions, and in particular to such an apparatus and method that enables soft-docking of cells by using a dam wall that is parallel to the direction of fluid flow. The invention further relates to an apparatus and method capable of generating a controlled concentration gradient, and in particular a concentration gradient such that the cells are aligned in the direction of the concentration gradient after docking.

Abstract: A tapered microchannel structure allows individual cells to be reacted with a continuum of concentrations or dosages of an analyte or drug from one sample. A dual sandbag structure that divides up a tapered micro channel into thirds permits performing two simultaneous tests on two different sets of cells isolated in the two sandbags by introducing a single analyte or drug into the region between the two sandbag structures.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for inhibiting hepatic fibrogenesis, especially liver fibrogenesis, which method comprises administering an effective amount of Fibroscutum, a mixture of natural peptides extracted from the liver tissue of suckling pig, containing at least 6 peptides of relative abundance of 10-27% and molecular weight of 7-40 kD.

Abstract: The present invention provides a diagnostic test method for detecting a tendency to rifampin resistance caused by mutations in a rpoB gene of M. tuberculosis, comprising the steps of (i) extracting genomic DNA from a biological sample containing M. tuberculosis cells; (ii) amplifying from the extracted genomic DNA the rpoB gene coding sequence or at least one distinct fragment thereof containing nucleotides encoding at least one test amino acid of the group consisting of amino acid numbers 511, 512, 513, 514, 515, 516, 517, 518, 522, 526, 529, 531, 533 to produce fluorescently labeled amplification product; (iii) contacting said fluorescently labeled amplification product with a first control array of oligonucleotide probes having DNA sequences specific to the wildtype M. tuberculosis rpoB gene coding sequence, including the nucleotides encoding the at least one test amino acid, and with a second test array of oligonucleotide probes having DNA sequences specific to the M.

Abstract: This invention relates to apparatus and methods for on-chip monitoring of cellular reactions, and in particular to such an apparatus and method that enables soft-docking of cells by using a dam wall that is parallel to the direction of fluid flow. The invention further relates to an apparatus and method capable of generating a controlled concentration gradient, and in particular a concentration gradient such that the cells are aligned in the direction of the concentration gradient after docking.

Abstract: The present invention provides a diagnostic test method for detecting a tendency to rifampin resistance caused by mutations in a rpoB gene of M. tuberculosis, comprising the steps of (i) extracting genomic DNA from a biological sample containing M. tuberculosis cells; (ii) amplifying from the extracted genomic DNA the rpoB gene coding sequence or at least one distinct fragment thereof containing nucleotides encoding at least one test amino acid of the group consisting of amino acid numbers 511, 512, 513, 514, 515, 516, 517, 518, 522, 526, 529, 531, 533 to produce fluorescently labeled amplification product; (iii) contacting said fluorescently labeled amplification product with a first control array of oligonucleotide probes having DNA sequences specific to the wildtype M. tuberculosis rpoB gene coding sequence, including the nucleotides encoding the at least one test amino acid, and with a second test array of oligonucleotide probes having DNA sequences specific to the M.