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 fluid processing cassette includes first and second covers, with an interior wall positioned between the covers. The interior wall includes a first surface facing the first cover and defining a portion of a plurality of macrofluidic channels. A second surface of the interior wall faces the second cover and defines a portion of a plurality of microfluidic channels. At least one opening defined in the interior wall provides fluid communication between at least one of the macrofluidic channels and at least one of the microfluidic channels. An additional interior wall may also be positioned between the covers, with each interior wall secured to a different one of the covers and to the other interior wall. The additional interior wall may be positioned between the first cover and the interior wall, with macrofluidic channels defined on each side of the additional interior wall.

Abstract: A handheld Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) device for detecting phenylalanine (Phe) in a sample collected from a subject, the device comprising a laser generator configured to produce a laser beam; a nanoporous anodic aluminum oxide (NAAO) substrate configured to receive the sample collected from the subject; and a light sensor configured to receive a light.

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: An analytical toilet comprising a bowl for receiving excreta from a user; a flush mechanism for cleaning the bowl after use; at least one analytical test device wherein a sample of excreta is analyzed; a manifold comprising conduits and valves for distributing one or more fluids to and from the at least one receptacle; and a digital control device controlling the valves to distribute the sample to the analytical test device for analysis; and distribute fluid to remove the sample from the analytical test device after analysis and to clean the analytical test device is disclosed.

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: 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: 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 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 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 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: 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 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 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.