Abstract: Systems and methods for transfection using a microfluidic device are disclosed. Microdroplets encapsulate cells, transfection molecules, and cationic lipid transfection reagent. Droplet chaotic advection in a rendering channel of the system results in a uniform lipid-DNA complex (lipoplex) formation, which can improve gene delivery efficacy. The shear stress exerted on cell membranes during the chaotic mixing increases membrane permeability, which when combined with the co-confinement of cell and lipoplex, improves transfection efficiency of the cell. The systems and methods can be used for a variety of applications such as gene therapy, in vitro fertilization, regenerative medicine, cancer treatment, and vaccines.

Abstract: Methods are provided for making rapid labeled dextran ladders and other calibrants useful in liquid chromatography. The methodologies include a two-step process comprising a reductive amination step of providing a reducing glycan and reacting it with a compound having a primary amine to produce an intermediate compound. The intermediate compound is then rapidly tagged with a rapid tagging reagent to produce the rapid labeled dextran ladder.

Abstract: On-platform pumps provide greater flexibility and design freedom and are a key feature of organs-on-chip platforms. On-platform electromagnetic (EM) pumps have been developed for use with the organ-on-chip platforms. The EM pump uses electrical energy, which may be supplied by a battery, making the pump portable. The EM pump uses an EM actuator having a low energy consumption. The actuator's low energy consumption is achieved by a latching design which requires only a short pulse of energy to switch its state and where springs store some of the actuator kinetic energy, which is then recovered in the reverse stroke. This further reduces the energy consumption of the actuator. Also provided are injection-molded, single-use platforms with onboard diaphragm micro-pumps and various valve and pump geometries. The EM actuators easily integrate with these platforms, demonstrating pumping at a constant flowrate, no measurable temperature rise, and valve sealing against varying back-pressure.

Abstract: A fluorescent compound for acid detection is strongly emissive in the solid state and can aggregate in the presence of an acid. As such, a fluorescent intensity emitted from the compound can be enhanced from an original intensity level in the presence of an acid. The fluorescent compound can emit an enhanced fluorescent intensity in the presence of an ultra-low acid concentration, for example, a concentration of at least about 10?20 M.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a dispensing system for providing a preset small volume of liquid ?200 ?l into a filling area of a microfluidic sample carrier comprising at least one flow channel, the system including, inter alia, at least one interface unit provided for each flow channel of the microfluidic sample carrier, with each interface unit comprising an injector with an injection channel, wherein the cross section of an outlet part of the injection channel is larger than a cross section of an inlet part of the injection channel and of the middle part of the injection channel. Furthermore, the present disclosure relates to a respective microfluidic sample carrier sealing system and to a respective method of dispensing sealing liquid into a microfluidic sample carrier.

Abstract: An assay system for measuring transfer of lipid from a donor model biomembrane to an acceptor model biomembrane generally includes a donor model biomembrane that has a lipid with a detectable label, a lipid transfer protein that specifically binds the detectable lipid, and an acceptor model biomembrane. At least one of the donor model biomembrane and the acceptor model biomembrane is a bicelle-dilution model membrane.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a method for driving a microfluidic chip including: controlling a first electrode that currently carries a droplet to be electrically connected to a first power supply by a first switch circuit connected to the first electrode; after controlling the first electrode to be in electrical connection to the first power supply for a first period of time, controlling the first electrode to be in electrical connection to a second power supply for a second period of time; and after the second period of time, continuing to control the first electrode to keep disconnected from two power supplies.

Abstract: A multiple analyte detection system includes a carrier having reagents disposed thereat, with each of the reagents capable of optically changing in response to exposure to a respective analyte. The system further includes a photodetector positioned to collectively detect light interacted with each of the reagents, a processor to determine a presence or an absence of each of the analytes in response to the light collectively-detected, and an indicator to provide an indication of the presence or the absence of each of the analytes. A method of detecting multiple analytes includes exposing reagents capable of optically changing in response to exposure to a respective analyte to a sample. The method further includes collectively detecting light interacted with each of the reagents, determining a presence or an absence of each of the analytes in response to the light collectively detected, and indicating the presence or the absence of each of the analytes determined.

Abstract: The invention concerns a filtration assembly for microbiological testing and a method of using the filtration assembly for that purpose. The filtration assembly (1) comprises a ring-like membrane support (10) holding a filtration membrane (11), a cylindrical reservoir (20) of which opposite axial ends have openings and one axial opening is removably and fluid-tightly attachable to the membrane support (10) to define a sample volume adjacent to the filtration membrane (11) on one axial side of the membrane support (10); and a lid device (40) removably and fluid tightly attachable to the other axial opening of the reservoir (20) to close the opening. Further, the lid device (40) is removably and fluid tightly attachable to the membrane support (10) so as to seal the one axial side of the membrane support (10) from the environment.

Abstract: A body fluid leakage detection aqueous composition, for use e.g. in intraoperative pancreatic fluid leakage detection. The composition comprises a gelling agent, increasing the viscosity of the composition, and buffering species, the composition thereby being buffered. The gelling agent is cross-linked ?-glucan microspheres. Further, the composition comprises a pH-indicator. The pH of the composition is at least 0.1 pH units lower, or higher, than a pKa of the pH-indicator.

Abstract: The present invention relates to microfluidic fluidic devices, methods and systems as microfluidic kidney on-chips, e.g. human Proximal Tubule-Kidney-Chip, Glomerulus (Kidney)-Chip, Collecting Duct (Kidney)-Chip. Devices, methods and systems are described for drug testing including drug transport and renal clearance. Further, such devices, methods and systems are used for determining drug-drug interactions and their effect upon renal transporter functions. Importantly, they may be used for pre-clinical and clinical drug development for treating kidney diseases and for personalized medicine.

Abstract: Provided herein is technology relating to microfluidics and particularly, but not exclusively, to devices, methods, and systems for detecting and/or quantifying analytes in samples using a microfluidic sensor device comprising an oil phase that segments aqueous samples into droplets and provides oil segments that are highly selective chemical sensors for adjacent aqueous droplets.

Abstract: Disclosed are an optical analysis device and an optical analysis method. The present invention provides an optical analysis device for optically analyzing a flow cell, including: a light source configured to emit light to the flow cell; an optical detector including a plurality of detection elements that detects optical signals from reaction regions of the flow cell; and an optical mask including light transmissive mask holes disposed at a front end of each of the detection elements, and an optical analysis method using the same.

Abstract: A method includes flowing an inlet solution having an inlet salinity and an inlet ion concentration from an inlet to a membrane filtration system, dynamically adjusting the salinity or ion concentration of the inlet solution in situ as the inlet solution flows to an inlet of a microfluidic cell, and determining a wettability alteration in situ while dynamically adjusting the salinity or ion concentration of the inlet solution. A system includes a fluid inlet, a microfluidic cell fluidly coupled to the fluid inlet, the microfluidic cell having a surface representative of a reservoir rock, and a membrane filtration system coupled between the microfluidic cell and the fluid inlet.

Abstract: A method is provided for treating a recipient with a biological product obtained from at least one donor that may be the same as, or different from, the recipient. The method includes identifying a targeted level of gene expression of a first gene in a biological product to be transferred from at least one donor to a recipient; treating the at least one donor to achieve the targeted level of gene expression of the first gene in the biological product; and transferring the biological product from the at least one donor to the recipient.

Abstract: The present disclosure is drawn to inertial pumps. An inertial pump can include a microfluidic channel, a fluid actuator located in the microfluidic channel, and a check valve located in the microfluidic channel. The check valve can include a moveable valve element, a narrowed channel segment located upstream of the moveable valve element, and a blocking element formed in the microfluidic channel downstream of the moveable valve element. The narrowed channel segment can have a width less than a width of the moveable valve element so that the moveable valve element can block fluid flow through the check valve when the moveable valve element is positioned in the narrowed channel segment. The blocking element can be configured such that the blocking element constrains the moveable valve element within the check valve while also allowing fluid flow when the moveable valve element is positioned against the blocking element.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to compounds of Formula I, II, or III and compositions of the same, which are reversible off-on or ratiometric fluorescent iron sensors and are useful in live-cell imaging of labile iron ions and their quantification in subcellular compartments, as well as treatment of diseases associated with iron dyshomoestasis.

Abstract: An analytical toilet comprising a bowl adapted to receive excreta; one or more conduits for transporting a sample from the bowl; one or more fluid sources in fluid connection with the one or more conduits; and one or more microfluidic chips, comprising at least one fluid inlet; at least one fluid outlet; and a sensor configured to detect at least one property of an excreta sample is disclosed.

Abstract: The present description relates to a sample collection device comprising a receptacle and a closure member configured to seal the receptacle. Within the closure member is provided a reservoir configured to contain a stabilization fluid capable of preserving and stabilizing a collected sample. The reservoir includes an outlet which is sealed by a sealing member. The sealing member may be openable to allow communication, or mixture, between the contents of the reservoir and the contents of the receptacle. The closure member may also include a peel foil on the end of the closure member having the outlet to ensure sterility of and to avoid tampering with the outlet and the reservoir. The method includes collecting a sample from the user using the sample collection device, mixing the sample with the stabilization fluid, and analyzing the sample thus collected.

Abstract: A composition, method and kit for quantifying the concentration of one peracid or the total concentration of two or more peracids in a water source are disclosed. In particular, an oxidation sensitive or peroxycarboxylic acid selective leuco dye is used to react only with one or more peroxycarboxylic acids in a water source but not with peroxide usually co-existing in the water source. Not only does the oxidation sensitive or peroxycarboxylic acid selective leuco dye react with peracid(s) but also the reaction generates a color species that can be used visually or through absorbance measurement to quantify the peracid concentration. The method disclosed here is not a titration method, it involves a simple mixing step. The kit or composition disclosed here does not utilize a catalyst, such as iodine.