Abstract: A device and method for isolating extracellular vesicles from biofluids is disclosed. A nanoporous silicon nitride membrane is provided with a tangential flow of biofluid. A pressure gradient through the nanoporous silicon nitride membrane facilitates capture of extracellular vesicles from the tangential flow vector of biofluid. Reversal of the pressure gradient results in the release of the extracellular vesicles for subsequent collection.

Abstract: Systems, and their methods of use, for sorting or separating magnetic particles are provided. A system having a magnetic module with features that mate with voids in a flow module exerts a magnetic field on magnetic particles to separate particles.

Abstract: Methods and systems for removing gases and/or pressure formed during the sterilization, e.g., the gamma irradiation, of prepacked chromatography systems (column plus attached tube and valve set) are described. The methods include purging the gas and/or pressure through specially designed tube and valve sets without breaching the sterility of the prepacked sterile chromatography system. The systems include a sterile or aseptic pre-packed chromatography column including a column having an inlet and an outlet, a tubing and valve set attached to the inlet and the outlet, and a pump configured to pump sterile or aseptic liquid from the fluid source along the tubing and valve set, into the column tube inlet and out of the column tube outlet along a first flow path, thereby removing any entrapped gas and/or pressure from the chamber.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to devices and methods for preparing a filtered solution from slurry for lateral flow testing of analytes of interest in agricultural or environmental samples. A porous frit is located adjacent to an outlet of a vessel containing slurry, and positive pressure is applied to the volume enclosed by a vessel body of the vessel to cause the slurry to pass through the porous frit and become a filtered solution that exits the outlet of the vessel. Devices and methods described herein allow more rapid, cleaner, and inexpensive production of filtered samples than conventional methods.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for purification a protein comprising a semi-continuous chromatography step whereby the flow-through is collected and re-loaded onto the chromatography matrix.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for isolating extracellular vesicles using cations, and more particularly, to a method for isolating extracellular vesicles from various samples by using the affinity between the extracellular vesicles and cations. A method for isolating extracellular vesicles according to the present invention does not require expensive equipment, can be applied irrespective of sample amount, and has the advantage of being capable of efficiently isolating the extracellular vesicles while preserving the shape or characteristics thereof. Moreover, the method according to the present invention can be combined with existing isolation methods to maximize extracellular vesicle isolation efficiency, and can be applied to disease diagnosis, disease treatment, and multi-omics research using isolated extracellular vesicles, as well as to research on the properties of extracellular vesicles.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide for the deposition of spacing elements for spiral wound elements that prevent nesting of adjacent spacer layers and occlusion of feed space during element rolling.

Abstract: Porous liquid-filtering membranes are provided having a boundary region substantially surrounding the pore region and having greater tear resistance than the pore region.

Abstract: Provided is a reverse osmosis membrane comprising: a support layer comprising a support and a polysulfone layer; and an active layer, wherein a compression modulus is from 20 MPa to 40 MPa, to a method for manufacturing the same, and a water-treatment module.

Abstract: An elongate, horizontally level, pipe includes a circumferential wall. The pipe flows, within the circumferential wall, process fluid that includes a first fluid and a second fluid immiscible with the first fluid. The first fluid and the second fluid are separated by an interfacial layer. Heating coils are disposed within the pipe. Each heating coil passes through an interior region of the pipe between the circumferential wall at a respective height from a bottom of the pipe. The heating coils generate heat. A controller is connected to the heating coils. The controller triggers at least one of the heating coils that is nearest to a location of the interfacial layer within the interior region to apply heat to the interfacial layer. The heat is sufficient to at least partially demulsify the interfacial layer.

Abstract: Introduced here are systems for treating a wastewater stream to produce an effluent stream. A treatment system can include a sensor for measuring a characteristic of the wastewater stream and/or the effluent stream, a pump for supplying a chemical additive to the wastewater stream, and a controller for varying the flow rate of the chemical additive based on real-time analysis of measurements generated by the sensor. The characteristic could be, for example, turbidity, pH, total suspended solids (TSS), etc. Some embodiments of the treatment system further include a flow meter for measuring flow of the wastewater stream. In such embodiments, the controller may vary the flow rate of the chemical additive based on the measurements generated by the sensor and the flow meter.

Abstract: Systems and methods for efficient, effective, and safe separation and isolation of multiple isotopes (e.g., Mo, Zr, Ba, Sr, Te, and lanthanide isotopes) from fission products includes use of a plurality of chromatography columns, each containing a chromatographic resin formulated to target one or more particular isotopes. The system is operable in a “series” configuration to load the multiple columns by a single pass of the sample. Then, the system may be transitioned (e.g., using valves) to a “parallel” configuration in which multiple columns of the system may be operated simultaneously to elute targeted isotopes. Additional parallel operations of the columns, using different eluent compositions, may be used to elute different targeted isotopes. The system may be reconditioned in preparation for a subsequent sample.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present invention provides a method of purifying a protein of interest with a reduced level of aggregation formation in cation exchange (CEX) chromatography, comprising: (a) providing a mixture comprising the protein of interest and one or more contaminants; (b) loading the mixture onto a CEX resin coupled with arginine; and (c) eluting the protein of interest from the resin, thereby purifying the protein of interest with a reduced level of aggregation formation in CEX chromatography.

Abstract: A biocompatible polymeric membrane includes pores defined between two material layers, where the first membrane material layer includes strips, and the second membrane material binds to each of the plurality of first membrane material layer strips includes a plurality of windows exposing each of the first membrane material strips. The biocompatible polymeric filtration membrane comprises pores defined by uniform passages defined by the first membrane material layer strips and the second membrane material layer within each window.

Abstract: A silica monolith nested in a polymer sponge may be formed by applying a hydrolyzed mixture of siloxanes to a melamine-formaldehyde sponge, and may be used in methods of solid phase extraction.

Abstract: A method for making a membrane includes buffing a first set of graphene platelets onto a surface of a porous substrate to force the graphene platelets into the pores of the substrate, to yield a primed substrate. The method further includes applying a fluid to the primed substrate. The method further includes forcing the fluid through the primed substrate while retaining at least a first portion of the graphene platelets of the first set on the substrate within the pores, to yield a graphene membrane comprising the substrate and a graphene layer platelets lodged within the pores of the substrate.

Abstract: A phase separator apparatus includes a fluid flow pathway and a phase separator. The fluid flow pathway includes a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The fluid flow pathway is configured to flow multiphase fluid including an oil phase and a water phase from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet. The phase separator is spatially positioned relative to the fluid flow pathway to receive the multiphase fluid flowing from the fluid outlet. The phase separator includes a mounting substrate and a separation layer attached to the mounting substrate. The separation layer includes a material switchable between oleophilic and hydrophobic under a first condition and oleophobic and hydrophilic under a second condition. The separation layer is configured to separate the oil phase and the water phase when the separation layer is under either the first condition or the second condition.

Abstract: Porous membranes are provided according to the invention having desirable coefficient of thermal expansion and large surface area, for example at least about 4,000 mm2. These porous membranes may be made according to an exemplary process employing lithographic patterning of a photoresist followed by development of the photoresist and etching. In one aspect, the etch barrier layer is chosen from a material that does not react with or incorporate metal or other contaminants into the membrane layer.

Abstract: A filtering process can comprise providing a dispersion comprising a liquid and a plurality of particles contained in the liquid; moving an object relative to the dispersion; selectively removing at least a portion of the plurality of particles from the dispersion to obtain a plurality of separated particles attached to the object. In a further embodiment, an assembly for separating particles from a dispersion can comprise a chamber including a dispersion, the dispersion comprising a liquid and a plurality of particles; a movable object, the object being adapted for moving through the chamber and adsorbing at least a portion of the plurality of particles during moving; a first construction adapted for moving the object relative to the dispersion at a controlled moving speed, and a second construction adapted for removing and collecting from the object a plurality of separated particles from the dispersion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to Fc binding proteins comprising one or more domains with Cysteine in the C-terminal helical region. The invention further relates to affinity matrices comprising the Fc binding proteins of the invention. The invention also relates to a use of these Fc binding proteins or affinity matrices for affinity purification of immunoglobulins and to methods of affinity purification using the Fc binding proteins of the invention.