Abstract: System, including methods, apparatus, compositions, and kits, for making and using a stabilized emulsion. A method of generating a stabilized emulsion is provided. In the method, an aqueous phase may be provided. The aqueous phase may include an effective concentration of one or more skin-forming proteins. An emulsion may be formed. The emulsion may include droplets of a dispersed phase disposed in a continuous phase, with the aqueous phase being the continuous phase or the dispersed phase. The emulsion may be heated to create an interfacial skin between each droplet and the continuous phase, to transform the droplets into capsules.

Abstract: Methods and systems for thermally controlling a chemical reaction in droplets. In an exemplary method, a first thermal zone and a second thermal zone having different temperatures from one another may be created in a reaction chamber. An emulsion including droplets encapsulated by a carrier fluid may be held in the reaction chamber. The droplets may have a density mismatch with the carrier fluid, and each droplet may include one or more reactants for the chemical reaction. An orientation of the reaction chamber may be changed to move the droplets from the first thermal zone to the second thermal zone, such that a rate of the chemical reaction changes in at least a subset of the droplets.

Abstract: Microfluidic methods of altering the spacing of a stream of objects. In an exemplary method, objects of the object stream may be transported in carrier fluid along a microfluidic channel structure having an inflow region, an outflow region, and an expanded region extending from the inflow region to the outflow region. The expanded region may have a greater cross-sectional area for fluid flow than each of the inflow region and the outflow region. Objects of the object stream may be moved from the inflow region to the expanded region such that at least a subset of such objects are moved closer to one another. Objects of the object stream may be passed from the expanded region to the outflow region to increase a distance between such objects.

Abstract: Emulsion compositions are provided herein. Also provided herein are kits containing one or more emulsion compositions or components for making such emulsion compositions. Also provided herein are methods of using such emulsion compositions, such as for amplification of target nucleic acids in emulsion droplets.

Abstract: Chromatography column components are described. One component, a chromatography plug, can include a body, the body including: a first surface; a second surface opposing the first surface; a passage through the body extending from an opening in the first surface to an opening in the second surface; and a circumferential surface extending from the first surface to the second surface; a plurality of ridges, located on the first surface, wherein each of the plurality of ridges having a first end and an opposed second end, and the first end of each of the plurality of ridges being closer to one another than the second ends of each of the plurality of ridges. In some instances, a bridge can be located between the first ends, the bridge extending into the body. A porous partition can be located on or in the plug.

Abstract: A dynamic axial compression column is disclosed herein. This dynamic axial column utilized external compression to prevent the creation of end plate space in the column. The dynamic axial column can include a tube defining a first opening, a second opening, and a lumen extending there between. The dynamic axial column can include a first end plate assembly sealing the first opening and movably extending at least partially into the lumen via the first opening, a second end plate assembly sealing the second opening, a plurality of rods extending along the outside of the tube and connecting the first end plate assembly and the second end plate assembly, and a first plurality of compression devices external to the tube and engaging one of the plurality of rods to bias the first end plate assembly towards the second end plate assembly.

Abstract: Method and system for detecting reverse transcriptase activity of a sample by digital assay. In an exemplary method, a reaction mixture including the sample, an RNA polymer, and reagents for reverse transcription may be prepared. Complementary DNA (cDNA) may be synthesized in the reaction mixture using the RNA polymer as a template. An amount of the cDNA synthesized may be proportional to the reverse transcriptase activity of the sample. Partitions may be formed after synthesizing the cDNA. The partitions may contain copies of the cDNA at partial occupancy. Each partition may include a portion of the reaction mixture. A target representing the cDNA may be amplified in the partitions. Amplification data for the target may be collected from the partitions.

Abstract: A system and method for target material retrieval and processing, the system comprising: an adaptor configured to interface with a capture region of a capture substrate for capturing particles in single-particle format within a set of wells, wherein the adaptor comprises a first region configured to interface with the capture region, a second region, and a cavity extending from the first region to the second region; and a support structure coupled to the adaptor and providing a set of operation modes for movement of the adaptor relative to the capture substrate. The system enables methods for magnetic and/or other force-based methods of retrieval of target material (e.g., derived from single cells).

Abstract: The methods and reagents are provided for barcoding and analysis of DNA samples using partition (e.g., droplet) technology while avoiding performing amplification in droplets.

Abstract: Covalently-linked DNA polymerases are provided.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for making and using uniquely tagged target nucleic acid molecules.

Abstract: Lateral flow devices, methods and kits for performing lateral flow assays are provided.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for sampling/isolating material from cells. An exemplary system may comprise a chip including an electrode array of sampling electrodes arranged along a surface of the chip. A cell-receiving area may be located adjacent the surface of the chip. The system also may comprise a tag array of tags supported by the chip and aligned with the electrode array. Each tag of the tag array may include an identifier that is unique to the tag within the tag array. Each tag may be configured to bind nucleic acids, or a capturing agent distinct from the tag may be aligned with each sampling electrode of the electrode array to capture a protein or other analyte of interest. The system further may comprise a control circuit configured to apply an individually controllable voltage to each sampling electrode of the electrode array and measure an electrical property of the sampling electrode.

Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting particles. In an exemplary method, a sample fluid including the particles may be driven from a sample inlet channel, through a confluence region, and into a sample outlet channel defining a longitudinal axis. Focusing fluid may be introduced into the confluence region from at least two focusing channels along respective introduction axes. Introducing may be rotationally asymmetrical about the longitudinal axis. The introduction axes and the longitudinal axis may collectively extend in three dimensions. The particles may be passed through an interrogation zone of the sample outlet channel. The interrogation zone may be irradiated with light. Optical radiation may be detected from the interrogation zone.

Abstract: A system and method for target material capture, the method comprising: receiving a set of target cells into an array of wells defined at a surface plane of a substrate; receiving a set of particles into the array of wells, thereby co-capturing the set of target cells and the set of particles; achieving a desired state for the array of wells upon receiving a washing fluid into a cavity in communication with the array of wells; receiving a lysis buffer into the cavity; receiving a partitioning fluid into the cavity, thereby displacing the lysis buffer from the cavity and partitioning each of the array of wells from adjacent wells, at the surface plane; and retaining intercellular material of the set of target cells, individually with the set of particles within the array of wells.

Abstract: Systems for protein quantitation using a Fabry-Perot interferometer. In one arrangement, a quantitation device includes an infrared source, a sample holder, and a Fabry-Perot interferometer positioned to receive infrared radiation from the source passing through a sample on the sample holder. A band pass optical filter sets the working range of the interferometer, and radiation exiting the interferometer falls on a detector that produces a signal indicating the intensity of the received radiation. A controller causes the interferometer to be tuned to a number of different resonance wavelengths and receives the intensity signals, for determination of an absorbance spectrum.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for forming an array of emulsions. An exemplary device comprises a frame and at least one or a plurality of separate microfluidic modules mounted to the frame and each configured to form an array of emulsions. In some embodiments, each module may be mounted by snap-fit attachment. The device also may include the same sealing member bonded to a top side of each module and hermetically sealing each of the modules. Another exemplary microfluidic device for forming an array of emulsions comprises a stack of layers bonded together. The stack may comprise a port layer forming a plurality of ports. Each port may have a top rim formed by a protrusion that encircles the central axis of the port. The rims may be coplanar with one another to facilitate bonding of a sealing member to each rim.

Abstract: The invention provides barcode libraries and methods of making and using them including obtaining a plurality of nucleic acid constructs in which each construct comprises a unique N-mer and a functional N-mer and segregating the constructs into a fluid compartments such that each compartment contains one or more copies of a unique construct. The invention further provides methods for digital PCR and for use of barcode libraries in digital PCR.

Abstract: Compositions, devices, and methods are disclosed for the modification of polymer surfaces with coatings having a dispersion of silicone polymer and hydrophobic silica. The surface coatings provide the polymer surface with high hydrophobicity, as well as increased resistance to biofouling with proteinaceous material. The polymer surfaces can be particularly useful in microfluidic devices and methods that involve the contacting of the covalently modified polymer surfaces with emulsions of aqueous droplets containing biological macromolecules within an oil carrier phase.

Abstract: Methods of generating a nucleic acid signature for identifying particles associated in a partition are provided. In one aspect, the method comprises: partitioning a sample into a plurality of partitions comprising a particle comprising a solid support surface, the solid support surface having a plurality of oligonucleotide primers conjugated thereon, wherein the oligonucleotide primers comprise a barcode sequence, and wherein the partitions have 0, 1, or more than 1 particles per partition; providing in a partition a substrate comprising a barcode sequence or repeating clonal barcode sequences; and in the partition, associating a first particle conjugated to oligonucleotide primers comprising a first barcode sequence and a second particle conjugated to oligonucleotide primers comprising a second barcode sequence to a barcode sequence from the substrate, thereby generating a nucleic acid signature for the particles in the partition.