Abstract: Methods for identifying a cell population secreting a biomolecule with desirable attributes are disclosed. The desirable attributes can include, for example, quantity and quality (e.g., minimal aggregation and/or desired configuration). Cell populations identified by the disclosed methods are more likely to successfully scale during production. The methods can include assessing multiple domains/binding sites of a complex biomolecule and/or the formation of aggregates by the biomolecules. Methods of assessing a secretion level for biomolecules having a wide range of molecular weights and method for enhancing loading of cells into chambers of a microfluidic device.

Abstract: Microfluidic devices having an electrowetting configuration and an optimized droplet actuation surface are provided. The devices include a conductive substrate having a dielectric layer, a hydrophobic layer covalently bonded to the dielectric layer, and a first electrode electrically coupled to the dielectric layer and configured to be connected to a voltage source. The microfluidic devices also include a second electrode configured to be connected to the voltage source. The hydrophobic layer features self-associating molecules covalently bonded to a surface of the dielectric layer in a manner that produces a densely-packed monolayer that resists intercalation and or penetration by polar molecules or species.

Abstract: A system and a method for dynamically optimizing an instrument system workflow based on operational monitoring and managing of a workflow for a hardware system. The system includes instrument resources and sample chambers, each resource and chamber with a dedicated sensor configured to acquire data. The system further includes a computing device communicatively connected to the instrument resources and sample chambers. The computing device includes a software application or program comprising a workflow builder, an execution engine, an analytics engine, a virtual system modeling engine, and an optional machine learning engine.

Abstract: In biosciences and related fields, it can be useful to modify surfaces of apparatuses, devices, and materials that contact biomaterials such as biomolecules and biological micro-objects. Described herein are surface modifying and surface functionalizing reagents, preparation thereof, and methods for modifying surfaces to provide improved or altered performance with biomaterials.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for performing assays, including general functional assays, on a biological cell. Also disclosed herein are methods of barcoding the 5? ends of RNA from a biological cell and methods of preparation of expression constructs from the barcoded RNA. The barcoded RNA can encode proteins of interest, such as B cell receptor (BCR) heavy and light chain sequences. The expression constructs can be generated individually or in a paired/multiplexed manner, allowing rapid re-expression of individual proteins or protein complexes.

Abstract: Cartridge for manufacturing a population of cells suitable for formulation as a cellular therapeutic are disclosed herein, along with systems for operating the cartridges and performing methods to generate the population of cells suitable for formulation as a cellular therapeutic. The population of cells suitable for formulation as a cellular therapeutic can be T-cells, including CAR T-cells. The systems and methods can be largely automated.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for performing a process on biological samples. An analysis of biological samples in multiple regions of interest in a microfluidic device and a timeline correlated with the analysis may be identified. One or more region-of-interest types for the multiple regions of interest may be determined; and multiple characteristics may be determined for the biological samples based at least in part upon the one or more region-of-interest types. Associated data that respectively correspond to the multiple regions of interest in a user interface for at least a portion of the biological samples in the user interface based at least in part upon the multiple identifiers and the timeline. A count of the biological samples in a region of interest may be determined based at least in part upon a class or type of data using a convolutional neural network (CNN).

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an optical apparatus for imaging and/or manipulating micro-objects in a microfluidic device, such as a light-actuated microfluidic (LAMF) device, and related systems and methods. The optical apparatus can comprise a structured light modulator, a first and a second tube lens, an objective lens, a dichroic beam splitter, and an image sensor. The structured light modulator can be configured to receive unstructured light beams and transmit structured light beams for illuminating micro-objects located within an enclosure of the microfluidic device and/or selectively activating one or more of a plurality of dielectrophoresis (DEP) electrodes of the microfluidic device. The image light beams received by the image sensor can be used to form an image of at least a portion of the microfluidic device.

Abstract: Methods, systems and kits are described herein for detecting the results of an assay. In particular, the methods, systems and devices of the present disclosure rely on a difference between the diffusion rates of a reporter molecule and an analyte of interest in order to quantify an amount of analyte in a microfluidic device. The analyte may be a secreted product of a biological micro-object.

Abstract: In situ-generated microfluidic isolation structures incorporating a solidified polymer network, methods of preparation and use, compositions and kits therefor are described. The ability to introduce in real time, a variety of isolating structures including pens and barriers offers improved methods of micro-object manipulation in microfluidic devices. The in situ-generated isolation structures may be permanently or temporarily installed.

Abstract: In situ-generated microfluidic isolation structures incorporating a solidified polymer network, methods of preparation and use, compositions and kits therefor are described. The ability to introduce in real time, a variety of isolating structures including pens and barriers offers improved methods of micro-object manipulation in microfluidic devices. The in situ-generated isolation structures may be permanently or temporarily installed.

Abstract: Methods of sorting T lymphocytes in a microfluidic device are provided. The methods can include flowing a fluid sample comprising T lymphocytes through a region of a microfluidic device that contains an array of posts. The array of posts can be configured to have a critical size (Dc) that separates activated T lymphocytes from naïve T lymphocytes. Also provided are microfluidic devices having an array of posts configured to separate activated T lymphocytes from naïve T lymphocytes, compositions enriched for T lymphocytes, particularly activated T lymphocytes that are known to be reactive to an antigen of interest, and methods of treating subjects suffering from a pathogenic disorder or cancer by administering such compositions.

Abstract: Methods are described herein for isolating clonal populations of T cells having a defined genetic modification. The methods are performed, at least in part, in a microfluidic device comprising one or more sequestration pens. The methods include the steps of: maintaining individual T cells (or precursors thereof) that have undergone a genomic editing process in corresponding sequestration pens of a microfluidic device; expanding the T cells into respective clonal populations of T cells; detecting, in one or more T cells of each clonal population, the absence of a cell surface marker that was present in the individual T cells (or precursors thereof); and detecting, in one or more T cells of each clonal population, the presence of a first nucleic acid sequence that is indicative of the presence of an on-target genome edit in the clonal population of T cells. Also described are compositions comprising one or more clonal populations of T cells isolated according to the methods disclosed herein.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for performing a process on biological samples. An analysis of biological samples in multiple regions of interest in a microfluidic device and a timeline correlated with the analysis may be identified. One or more region-of-interest types for the multiple regions of interest may be determined; and multiple characteristics may be determined for the biological samples based at least in part upon the one or more region-of-interest types. Associated data that respectively correspond to the multiple regions of interest in a user interface for at least a portion of the biological samples in the user interface based at least in part upon the multiple identifiers and the timeline. A count of the biological samples in a region of interest may be determined based at least in part upon a class or type of data using a convolutional neural network (CNN).

Abstract: In biosciences and related fields, it can be useful to study cells in isolation so that cells having unique and desirable properties can be identified within a heterogenous mixture of cells. Processes and methods disclosed herein provide for encapsulating cells within a microfluidic device and assaying the encapsulated cells. Encapsulation can, among other benefits, facilitate analyses of cells that generate secretions of interest which would otherwise rapidly diffuse away or mix with the secretions of other cells.

Abstract: The disclosure provides methods for amplification of paired transcript sequences from a single cell, such as, but not limited to alpha and beta T cell receptor (TCR) sequences from a single T cell. The method can include: placing a single T cell into a cell lysis solution to provide a T cell lysate comprising RNA; generating first strand cDNA from the RNA; amplifying the first strand cDNA to provide amplified cDNA; and amplifying the alpha and beta TCR sequences from the amplified cDNA in a single reaction, wherein the alpha and beta TCR sequences are amplified using three sets of TCR amplification primers. In some instances, the methods can be performed using no more than six sets of primers.

Abstract: A microfluidic device can include a base an outer surface of which forms one or more enclosures for containing a fluidic medium. The base can include an array of individually controllable transistor structures each of which can comprise both a lateral transistor and a vertical transistor. The transistor structures can be light activated, and the lateral and vertical transistors can thus be photo transistors. Each transistor structure can be activated to create a temporary electrical connection from a region of the outer surface of the base (and thus fluidic medium in the enclosure) to a common electrical conductor. The temporary electrical connection can induce a localized electrokinetic force generally at the region, which can be sufficiently strong to move a nearby micro-object in the enclosure.

Abstract: A microfluidic device can comprise at least one swept region that is fluidically connected to unswept regions. The fluidic connections between the swept region and the unswept regions can enable diffusion but substantially no flow of media between the swept region and the unswept regions. The capability of biological micro-objects to produce an analyte of interest can be assayed in such a microfluidic device. Biological micro-objects in sample material loaded into a microfluidic device can be selected for particular characteristics and disposed into unswept regions. The sample material can then be flowed out of the swept region and an assay material flowed into the swept region. Flows of medium in the swept region do not substantially affect the biological micro-objects in the unswept regions, but any analyte of interest produced by a biological micro-object can diffuse from an unswept region into the swept region, where the analyte can react with the assay material to produce a localized detectable reaction.