Abstract: A method of preparing an antibody therapeutic is provided comprising: (a) providing a dissociated cell sample from at least one solid tumor sample obtained from a patient; (b) loading the dissociated cell sample into a microfluidic device having a flow region and at least one isolation region fluidically connected to the flow region; (c) moving at least one B cell from the dissociated cell sample into at least one isolation region in the microfluidic device, thereby obtaining at least one isolated B cell; and (d) using the microfluidic device to identify at least one B cell that produces antibodies capable of binding to cancer cells. The cancer cells can be the patient's own cancer cells. Also provided are methods of treating patients, methods of labeling or detecting cancer, engineered T or NK cells comprising antibodies or fragments thereof, and engineered antibody constructs.

Abstract: The present invention provides an analytical system comprising a sample management module. A pressure delivery assembly is configured to compress and deform a mixing chamber containing a sample preparation, and simultaneously open a plug of the mixing chamber to release the sample preparation. The system can be manufactured as a sample box combinable to a detector box, and is particularly convenient for patients to use at home, for example, screening colorectal cancer with their fecal sample.

Abstract: A lateral-flow assay device includes a substrate having a sample addition zone and a wash addition zone downstream thereof along a fluid flow path through which a sample flows. The fluid flow path is configured to receive a wash fluid in the wash addition zone. A hydrophilic surface is arranged in the wash addition zone. Flow constriction(s) are spaced apart from the fluid flow path and arranged to define, with the hydrophilic surface, a reservoir configured to retain the wash fluid by formation of a meniscus between the hydrophilic surface and the flow constriction(s). The fluid flow path draws the wash fluid from the reservoir by capillary pressure. Apparatus for analyzing a fluidic sample and methods of displacing a fluidic sample in a fluid flow path of an assay device are also described.

Abstract: Microfluidic devices for use with reagents bound to microspheres for determination of the concentration of an analyte in a liquid sample are provided. The devices include two sequential mixing channels that promote rapid binding of microsphere-bound reagents with reagents in solution and a means for detecting labeled microsphere-bound reaction products. Also provided are methods for using the devices with microsphere-bound reagents to determine the concentration of an analyte in a liquid sample and to measure the binding affinity of antibody for an antigen.

Abstract: Disclosed is an assay device which comprises a liquid sample addition zone, a reagent zone, a detection zone, and a wicking zone, all defining a fluid flow path. The device further comprises a reagent addition zone along and in fluid communication with the fluid flow path downstream of the sample addition zone and upstream of the detection zone. An interrupting wash is added at this reagent addition zone in accordance with the method of the subject invention to control sample volume. The interrupting wash fluid is added at a predetermined fill volume on the chip device and also serves to wash the detection channel and fill the remaining chip volume.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for detecting, quantifying, enriching, and/or separating bacterial species in fluid sample are provided. The fluid sample is provided as input to a microfluidic passage of a microfluidic device, wherein the microfluidic device comprises at least one electrode disposed adjacent to the microfluidic passage. The at least one electrode is activated to capture bacteria in the sample using dielectrophoresis, wherein the capture efficiency of bacteria is at least 99%.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are two related techniques for digital microfluidic (DMF) processing of liquids that rely on electrostatic actuation of fluid through a strip of solid, porous media. In the first technique, droplets in a DMF device containing particles of different sizes are driven through a solid porous medium, allowing for filtering, concentration, and recovery of the particles into droplets on the basis of size. In the second technique, an aliquot of liquid media is loaded directly onto a solid porous medium, where it is wicked into a DMF device, such that the filtrate can be collected into droplets. Both techniques may be useful for generating plasma from whole blood on a DMF device, an operation that will have far-reaching implications for diagnostic applications of digital microfluidics.

Abstract: A system and method, wherein the system includes: an array of wells defined at a substrate, each well including an open surface and a well cavity and a fluid delivery module including a fluid pathway through which fluid flow is controlled along a fluid path in a direction parallel to the broad face of the substrate; and wherein the method includes: generating a set of genetic complexes within individual wells of the array of wells.

Abstract: This disclosure describes a magnetic-field image sensor and method of use. In accordance with implementations of the magnetic-field image sensor, a sample can be placed on top of the magnetic field image sensor. An image of the magnetic nanoparticles or superparamagnetic nanoparticles can be created immediately afterwards based upon detection of a change in magnetic field caused by the magnetic nanoparticles or superparamagnetic nanoparticles. From this image, computer imaging algorithms can determine attributes (e.g., size, shape, type, quantity, distribution, etc.) of the target entity.

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

Abstract: A biosensor may provide a magnetoresistive (MR) film comprising a nonmagnetic layer may be sandwiched between the two ferromagnetic layers. The MR film may be positioned on a substrate, where the edges of the MR film are in contact with leads. Additionally, the leads may be in contact with pads. The sensors may provide quasi-digital readout that enable greatly enhanced sensitivity. In some embodiments, biosensors may be arranged as array of sensors. The array of sensors may be arranged as a symmetric or asymmetric N1×N2 array, where N1 and N2 are integers, N1 represents the number of sensors linked together in series, and N2 represents the number of sensor sets in parallel, where each sensor set may comprise one or more sensors. Further, the array of sensors may be coupled to a voltmeter, which may be a single voltmeter in some cases that allows the sensors to all be probed simultaneously.

Abstract: The invention broadly relates techniques for imaging and medical diagnosis and, more particularly, to the fabrication of flexible plasmonic gratings and the use thereof in detection of biomarkers. A first aspect of the invention provides for techniques for the fabrication of novel, flexible plasmonic gratings that can be inexpensively fabricated onto fiber optic cables, flexible films and substrates with non-uniform surfaces to enhance the imaging resolution. A second aspect of the invention provides for an ultra¬high sensitivity (single molecule counting) biomarker detection platform useable for medical diagnosis based on a fluorescent sandwich ELISA assay performed on a plasmonic grating platform incorporated with a fluorescence detection unit.

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: Contamination detection systems, kits, and techniques are described for testing surfaces for the presence of hazardous contaminants, while minimizing user exposure to these contaminants. Even trace amounts of contaminants can be detected. A collection kit provides a swab that is simple to use, easy to hold and grip, allows the user to swab large areas of a surface, and keeps the user's hands away from the surface being tested. The kit also provides open and closed fluid transfer mechanism to transfer the collected fluid to a detection device while minimizing user exposure to hazardous contaminants in the collected fluid. Contamination detection kits can rapidly collect and detect hazardous drugs, including trace amounts of antineoplastic agents, in healthcare settings at the site of contamination.

Abstract: The particle trapping device according to the present invention comprises: a lead-in channel; a flattened channel disposed on the downstream side of the lead-in channel; a rectangular channel disposed on the downstream side of the flattened channel; and a particle pit trap disposed at least on a first inner wall face of the rectangular channel, wherein the lead-in channel has a channel cross-section larger than a channel cross-section of the flattened channel; the flattened channel has a flat channel cross-section whose the width is longer than its height; the rectangular channel has a rectangular channel cross-section, and is provided with the first inner wall face, a second inner wall face opposed to the first inner wall face, a third inner wall face, and a fourth inner wall face opposed to the third inner wall face; and the lead-in channel, the flattened channel, the rectangular channel, and the particle pit trap are characterized by being configured in such a way that a portion of liquid containing target

Abstract: A fluidic device (100) is described for locally coating an inner surface of a fluidic channel. The fluidic device (100) comprises a first (101), a second (102) and a third (103) fluidic channel intersecting at a common junction (105). The first fluidic channel is connectable to a coating fluid reservoir and the third fluidic channel is connectable to a sample fluid reservoir. The fluidic device (100) further comprises a fluid control means (111) configured for creating a fluidic flow path for a coating fluid at the common junction (105) such that, when coating, a coating fluid propagates from the first (101) to the second (102) fluidic channel via the common junction (105) without propagating into the third (103) fluidic channel. A corresponding method for coating and for sensing also has been disclosed.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to methods for quantifying an amount of enzyme molecules. Systems and methods of the invention are provided for measuring an amount of target by forming a plurality of fluid partitions, a subset of which include the target, performing an enzyme-catalyzed reaction in the subset, and detecting the number of partitions in the sunset. The amount of target can be determined based on the detected number.

Abstract: A lateral flow assay device comprises a test strip to receive a quantity of fluid comprising a quantity of exosomes and detect the presence of a target analyte on the surface of the exosomes. The test strip comprises a conjugate pad that contains a set of one or more types of tetraspanin binding reagents conjugated with a label. Each type of tetraspanin binding reagent is configured to bind with a corresponding type of exosome tetraspanin and form an immunocomplex comprising an exosome. The conjugate pad is fluidly connected to a membrane. The membrane comprises a test line comprising an immobilized binding reagent to the target analyte. The immobilized binding reagent to the target analyte is configured to bind to a protein of the target analyte on the surface of an exosome in an immunocomplex comprising the exosome.

Abstract: A rapid detection method of a target biomolecule comprising an antigenic moiety is provided. The method includes providing a source biological sample comprising the target biomolecule; contacting the source biological sample to an ion-exchange medium; eluting the captured-target biomolecule from the ion-exchange medium as an eluate, and loading the eluate to a rapid diagnostic testing device comprising an antibody. The eluate comprises a concentrated form of the biomolecule in a solution having a salt concentration greater than 150 mM. A concentration of the target biomolecule in the eluate is in a range from about 2× to 25× compared to a concentration of the biomolecule in the source biological sample. The target biomolecule binds to the antibody under the salt concentration of greater than 150 mM. A device for rapid detection of target biomolecule is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of detecting analytes using particles having different physico-chemical properties, such as buoyancy, size, density, spectral characteristics, and/or binding properties, in solution-based sandwich assays and solution-based competition assays. The methods can be performed using rotors and bench-top centrifuges and provide for rapid, qualitative and quantitative detection of analytes. The present invention also provides kits that can be used to perform the methods, and mixtures containing particles suitable for the methods.