Abstract: The method provides a hyaluronic-acid binding based technique to separate functionally competent and mature sperm. The method for extracting viable sperms from a semen sample comprises incubating functionalized HA with functionalized paramagnetic beads to obtain a plurality of HA coated paramagnetic beads. The method further comprises incubating the plurality of HA coated paramagnetic beads with the semen sample to obtain a first population and a second population of sperm. The first population comprises sperm bound to the plurality of HA coated paramagnetic beads and the second population comprises sperms not bound to the plurality of HA coated paramagnetic beads. The method comprises magnetically separating the first population from the second population and separating sperms from the plurality of HA coated paramagnetic beads in the separated first population to obtain the viable sperms.

Abstract: The invention provides a composition for lateral flow assay device that comprises at least one fabric strand coated with a conducting material and a diagnostic material. The invention also provides a lateral flow assay device(10) having a proximal end(12), a distal end(14) and a testing zone intermediate between the proximal end(12) and the distal end(14). The lateral flow assay device(20) is made of a fabric comprising at least one strand(22) that defines a flow path. The at least one strand of the fabric in the testing zone is coated with a conducting material(24). The at least one strand is made of at least one of a cotton, a silk-based material, and combinations thereof. The invention also provides a lateral flow assay system(40) comprising the lateral flow assay device(42) of the invention, wherein the at least one electrode(52) connected to the strand(50) coated with the conducting material and measurement means(54) to measure the output from the at least one electrode(52).

Abstract: The invention relates to a diagnostic element. The diagnostic element comprises an inlet passage, a holding port and an outlet passage. The holding port is capable of encapsulating a diagnostic gel. The invention also relates to a diagnostic device that comprises at least one inlet port, a preparation port, a diagnostic element that comprises an inlet passage, a holding port, an outlet passage and an outlet port.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides a method for making a hydrophilic-silk composition. The method includes providing at least one strand of silk fiber, treating the silk fiber with an alkaline solution to provide at least one strand of degummed silk fiber, and treating the degummed silk fiber with a treatment solution to provide a hydrophilic-silk composition. The degummed silk fiber or the hydrophilic-silk composition is further immobilized with at least one reagent to make a silk-based diagnostic composition. The invention provides a silk-based diagnostic composition made by the method of the invention, and a diagnostic device that comprises the silk-based diagnostic composition. In another aspect, the invention provides a method of making a diagnostic device.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides a method for making a hydrophilic-silk composition. The method includes providing at least one strand of silk fiber, treating the silk fiber with an alkaline solution to provide at least one strand of degummed silk fiber, and treating the degummed silk fiber with a treatment solution to provide a hydrophilic-silk composition. The degummed silk fiber or the hydrophilic-silk composition is further immobilized with at least one reagent to make a silk-based diagnostic composition. The invention provides a silk-based diagnostic composition made by the method of the invention, and a diagnostic device that comprises the silk-based diagnostic composition. In another aspect, the invention provides a method of making a diagnostic device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a diagnostic gel composition for use as a diagnostic element in diagnostic devices. The diagnostic gel composition is derived from a compound having a formula D-Sp-Po wherein D is a diagnostic group; Sp is a hydrophilic spacer group; and Po is a polymerizable group. The diagnostic gel composition of the invention has dimensions ranging from about 250 nanometers to about 1000 micrometers, and a Young's modulus ranging from about 10 kilopascals to about 200 kilopascals. The invention also provides method for making the diagnostic gel composition. The method comprises providing a composition comprising a porogen, an initiator and a compound having a formula D-Sp-Po; polymerizing the composition to form a polymerized composition; and washing the polymerized composition to form the diagnostic gel composition.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides a method for making a hydrophilic-silk composition. The method includes providing at least one strand of silk fiber, treating the silk fiber with an alkaline solution to provide at least one strand of degummed silk fiber, and treating the degummed silk fiber with a treatment solution to provide a hydrophilic-silk drophilic-silk composition. The degummed silk fiber or the hydrophilic-silk composition is further immobilized with at least one reagent to make a silk-based diagnostic composition. The invention provides a silk-based diagnostic composition made by the method of the invention, and a diagnostic device that comprises the silk-based diagnostic composition. In another aspect, the invention provides a method of making a diagnostic device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a diagnostic gel composition for use as a diagnostic element in diagnostic devices. The diagnostic gel composition is derived from a compound having a formula D-Sp-Po wherein D is a diagnostic group; Sp is a hydrophilic spacer group; and Po is a polymerizable group. The diagnostic gel composition of the invention has dimensions ranging from about 250 nanometers to about 1000 micrometers, and a Young's modulus ranging from about 10 kilopascals to about 200 kilopascals. The invention also provides method for making the diagnostic gel composition. The method comprises providing a composition comprising a porogen, an initiator and a compound having a formula D-Sp-Po; polymerizing the composition to form a polymerized composition; and washing the polymerized composition to form the diagnostic gel composition.