Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for detecting circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in body fluids, preferably in blood and lymph. In particular, the method for detecting circulating tumor cells in a body fluid comprises a step of detecting a change in pH and/or in a concentration of at least one molecule selected from lactic acid, lactate ions and protons within an isolated volume of said body fluid in which a cell has been encapsulated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for detecting circulating tumour cells (CTCs) in body fluids, preferably in blood and lymph. In particular, the method for detecting circulating tumour cells in a body fluid comprises a step of detecting a change in pH and/or in a concentration of at least one molecule selected from lactic acid, lactate ions and protons within an isolated volume of said body fluid in which a cell has been encapsulated.

Abstract: A light-emissive device comprising a light-emissive material provided between first and second electrodes such that charge carriers can move between the first and second electrodes and the light-emissive material, wherein the device includes a layer of a polymer blend provided between the first and second electrodes, phase separation of the polymers in the polymer blend having been induced in at least a portion of the polymer blend so as to control the propagation of light emitted by the light-emissive material in a predetermined direction.

Abstract: A treatment process for an aqueous phase which contains oil droplets, possibly of 10-50 nm diameter, in aqueous flow from a hydrocyclone separator, comprises bringing the water into contact with a surface subdivided into areas of differing surface energy and affinity for oil and such that when the surface is submerged in an aqueous phase, oil droplets adhere to it with an apparent contact angle in a range from 90 to 150 degrees. Areas of the surface may reduce their affinity for oil in response to an external stimulus causing controlled release of droplets adhering to the surface. The process may be used to remove oil droplets from water produced by an oil or gas well, after downhole oil water separation or after production at a at a well head, or used to coalesce droplets in such water to a larger size to enable conventional separation.

Abstract: A light-emissive device comprising a light-emissive material provided between first and second electrodes such that charge carriers can move between the first and second electrodes and the light-emissive material, wherein the device includes a layer of a polymer blend provided between the first and second electrodes, phase separation of the polymers in the polymer blend having been induced in at least a portion of the polymer blend so as to control the propagation of light emitted by the light-emissive material in a predetermined direction.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing an electrical device, the process comprising the steps: providing a substrate; bringing a stamp into contact with the substrate whereby areas of the substrate contacted by the stamp have decreased wettability; and depositing a liquid comprising an electrically active material over areas of the substrate located between the areas of decreased wettability.

Abstract: A light-emissive device comprising a light-emissive material provided between first and second electrodes such that charge carriers can move between the first and second electrodes and the light-emissive material, wherein the device includes a layer of a polymer blend provided between the first and second electrodes, phase separation of the polymers in the polymer blend having been induced in at least a portion of the polymer blend so as to control the propagation of light emitted by the light-emissive material in a predetermined direction.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing an electrical device, the process comprising the steps: providing a substrate; bringing a stamp into contact with the substrate whereby areas of the substrate contacted by the stamp have decreased wettability; and depositing a liquid comprising an electrically active material over areas of the substrate located between the areas of decreased wettability.

Abstract: A method for the patterned deposition of a material comprises the steps of dissolving or suspending said material in a solvent phase comprising compressed carbon dioxide, and depositing the solution or suspension onto a surface, evaporation of the solvent phase leaving a patterned deposit of said material. This method is particularly suitable for the patterned deposition of polymers and small organic molecules in organic light emitting diodes and organic transistors.

Abstract: A method for producing a colloid of metallic nanoparticles including the steps of: providing metal ions in solution; providing a stabilizing agent; and reducing said metal ions in the presence of said stabilizing agent, so that metallic nanoparticles are formed with a surrounding layer of said stabilizing agent, wherein the reduction step is carried out at a temperature of not less than 20° C. and not more than 150° C. The metallic nanoparticles are formed of a mixture of transition metal and noble metal, such as Ni—Pd. The resultant nanoparticles have a high stability in terms of size and chemical degradation and so can be stored for long periods. They are therefore particularly suited for forming patterned nanoparticle arrays on a substrate by nanocontact printing for the subsequent formation of a corresponding array of carbon nanotubes or nanofibers via plasma enhanced CVD.

Abstract: An organic electronic device comprises at least two electrodes and a semiconducting layer comprising a mixture of at least one hole-transporting semiconducting material and at least one electron-transporting semiconducting material, wherein at least one of said semiconducting materials is in the form of semiconducting polymer brushes which are attached to the surface of at least one of said electrodes and are in contact with at least one of said other semiconducting materials. Also provided is an organic electronic device comprising at least two electrodes and a semiconducting layer comprising at least one hole-transporting or electron-transporting semiconducting material, wherein said at least one semiconducting material is in the form of semiconducting polymer brushes which are attached to the surface of at least one of said electrodes. Processes for the manufacture of said devices are also provided.

Abstract: A self-assembled monolayer (SAM) is fabricated using either a semi-fluorinated sulphur containing compound, or a sem-fluorinated silane derivative and compressed carbon dioxide (CO2) as the solvent medium. The temperature and/or pressure of the compressed CO2 may be varied during the fabrication process to improve the molecular packing density of the monolayer. By using compressed CO2 as the solvent medium, monolayers with good molecular packing density can be fabricated relatively quickly without the use of environmentally unfriendly solvents.

Abstract: A dendron (2) comprising a focal point (4) and a plurality of fluorinated end groups (9) is disclosed, including one having a thiol, a silane, a carboxylic acid, a phosphonate or another moiety at the focal point suitable for chemisorption to a substrate (3). A self-assembled monolayer comprising a plurality of dendrons bonded to a substrate and a device comprising the self-assembled monolayer are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for forming an aligned polymer layer, the method comprising: depositing a film of the polymer in a solvent; bringing the polymer into alignment whilst some of the solvent remains present in the film; and solidifying the film by removing the solvent from the film.

Abstract: A light-emissive device comprising a light-emissive material provided between first and second electrodes such that charge carriers can move between the first and second electrodes and the light-emissive material, wherein the device includes a layer of a polymer blend provided between the first and second electrodes, phase separation of the polymers in the polymer blend having been induced in at least a portion of the polymer blend so as to control the propagation of light emitted by the light-emissive material in a predetermined direction.

Abstract: A self-assembled monolayer (SAM) is fabricated using either a semi-fluorinated sulphur containing compound, or a sem-fluorinated silane derivative and compressed carbon dioxide (CO2) as the solvent medium. The temperature and/or pressure of the compressed CO2 may be varied during the fabrication process to improve the molecular packing density of the monolayer.

Abstract: A self-assembled monolayer (SAM) is fabricated using either a semi-fluorinated sulphur containing compound, or a sem-fluorinated silane derivative and compressed carbon dioxide (CO2) as the solvent medium. The temperature and/or pressure of the compressed CO2 may be varied during the fabrication process to improve the molecular packing density of the monolayer.