Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a microfluidic circuit comprising an inlet port; an outlet port; a main channel fluidically connecting the inlet port and the outlet port; and a series of dead-end microchambers of differing volumes, where each microchamber is individually fluidically connected to the main channel via a side channel. The present disclosure also relates to a microfluidic device comprising a support layer; a substrate layer disposed on the support layer; and one or more microfluidic circuits of the present disclosure, where the one or more circuits are disposed within the substrate layer. Also disclosed is a method for performing an assay.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a microfluidic circuit comprising an inlet port; an outlet port; a main channel fluidically connecting the inlet port and the outlet port; and a series of microchambers of differing volumes disposed within the main channel, where each microchamber is individually fluidically connected to the main channel via individual microchamber openings. The present disclosure also relates to a microfluidic device comprising a support layer; a substrate layer disposed on the support layer; and one or more microfluidic circuits of the present disclosure, where the one or more circuits are disposed within the substrate layer. Also disclosed is a method for performing an assay.

Abstract: The present technology relates to a systems for quantifying rheotaxis in a sperm-containing sample. The system includes a microfluidic system having an inlet for charging fluids into a passage. One or more probes defining a confinement region suitable for retaining motile sperm are within the passage. The system further comprises an image processing computing device for obtaining a sequence of images of the confinement region of at least one of the one or more probes having motile sperm retained therein. The sequence of images of the confinement region is processed to determine a signal intensity value for said sequence of images, wherein said signal intensity value is based on a concentration of the motile sperm located in the confinement region at the flow rate. A rheotaxis quality value is determined for said sperm-containing sample based on the signal intensity value. Methods for quantifying rheotaxis in a sperm-containing sample are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for preparing a nutritional multi-supplement complex, the method comprising: (i) preparing a dispersion of spheroidal polysaccharide-stabilized complexes comprising a water-soluble polysaccharide and at least one water-soluble nutritional supplement in an aqueous medium, wherein the water-soluble polysaccharide and water-soluble nutritional supplement are complexed with each other by ionic interactions in the spheroidal polysaccharide-stabilized complexes; (ii) preparing an oil-supplement solution comprising at least one oil-soluble nutritional supplement dissolved in a food grade oil; and (iii) blending the dispersion of spheroidal polysaccharide-stabilized complexes with the oil-supplement solution to produce the nutritional multi-supplement complex, wherein the nutritional multi-supplement complex comprises droplets of the oil-supplement solution encapsulated by the spheroidal polysaccharide-stabilized complexes.

Abstract: The present application relates to a microfluidic system and its method for use for the separation of motile sperm from immotile sperm or motile bacteria from immotile bacteria. The system includes a housing having a first end, and a second end, with a passage connecting the first and second ends. There is an inlet at the first end of the housing for charging fluids into the passage and an outlet at the second end of said housing for discharging fluids from the passage. There are one or more corrals within the passage, each of the corrals including a closed side and a partially open side. The closed side of the corrals is closer to the first end than the partially open side, with the closed side and partially open side defining between them a confinement region suitable for retaining motile sperm or motile bacteria.

Abstract: A method of producing 1,4-dihydronicotinamide riboside (NRH) is disclosed. The method comprises providing nicotinamide riboside chloride (NRCl) in a liquid solution; adding a metal dithionite into the liquid solution under a first temperature; and reacting the metal dithionite with the nicotinamide riboside chloride (NRCl) in the liquid solution under a second temperature to form a mixture, wherein at least a portion of the mixture comprises the 1,4-dihydronicotinamide riboside (NRH).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a microfluidic device for denudation of a cumulus oocyte complex. The device includes a substrate. A first channel having a width of about 200 ?m to about 1 mm is located within the substrate. The first channel extends from a first end to a second end of the substrate. The first channel has a one or more ridge elements located along a surface thereof. A first port is located in the substrate and in fluid communication with the first end of the channel. A second port is located in the substrate and in fluid communication with the second end of the channel. Systems and methods of use of the microfluidic device for denudation of a cumulus oocyte complex are also disclosed.

Abstract: Provided are microcapsules. The microcapsules are oil-in-water microcapsules where an oil or oil-based material is encapsulated by a shell. The shell comprises an amphiphilic polymers units. Also provided are amphipathic polymer units and methods of preparing microcapsules of the present disclosure and compositions comprising microcapsules of the present disclosure. The amphiphilic polymer units may have the following structure: where each R is independently H or where at least one R of a glucosyl group of the polysaccharide is STRUCTURE IA.

Abstract: Consumable (edible) iron-containing compositions containing precisely or at least the following components: (i) an edible oil; (ii) ionic iron, typically as an iron salt or iron complex; and (iii) an esterified derivative of a natural product, such as an esterified version of curcumin, catechin, or ascorbic acid. Methods for preparing these compositions are also disclosed. Food products containing these compositions are also disclosed. Also disclosed herein are methods for treating a subject having an iron deficiency by administering the iron-containing composition to the subject.

Abstract: A shelf-stable probiotic composition comprising a lyophilized probiotic dispersed in a food grade oil, wherein the probiotic in the shelf-stable probiotic composition remains viable for at least 12 months at room temperature, wherein the shelf-stable probiotic composition may further include one or more oligosaccharides dispersed in the food-grade oil. The probiotic in the shelf-stable probiotic composition may remain viable by maintaining a CFU/mL of at least 20%, for at least 12 months at room temperature, relative to a starting CFU/mL of the probiotic when first dispersed in the food-grade oil. The probiotic in the shelf-stable probiotic composition may exhibit substantially the same metabolic activity with substantially no genetic mutation after 12 months of storage at room temperature. Methods of producing the probiotic compositions are also described.

Abstract: The present application relates to a polymerizable composition comprising: (a) a first monomer of Formula (I): (I) wherein R as described herein and (b) a second monomer of Formula (II): (II) The present application also relates to one or more adsorbent beads produced by polymerizing the polymerizable composition and to a method for heparin recovery using the adsorbent beads.

Abstract: The present application relates to a microfluidic system and its method for use for the separation of motile sperm from immotile sperm or motile bacteria from immotile bacteria. The system includes a housing having a first end, and a second end, with a passage connecting the first and second ends. There is an inlet at the first end of the housing for charging fluids into the passage and an outlet at the second end of said housing for discharging fluids from the passage. There are one or more corrals within the passage, each of the corrals including a closed side and a partially open side. The closed side of the corrals is closer to the first end than the partially open side, with the closed side and partially open side defining between them a confinement region suitable for retaining motile sperm or motile bacteria.

Abstract: A thickener is disclosed, as well as a nutritional product including the thickener, uses thereof, methods for the manufacture thereof, methods for improving the cohesiveness of a nutritional product, and related systems. The nutritional products have improved cohesiveness for promoting safer and more efficient swallowing of food boluses for individuals having swallowing difficulties such as dysphagia. In a preferred embodiment, the nutritional product includes a thickener comprising a beta-glucan and an additive. Preferably, the nutritional product has a relaxation time, determined by a Capillary Breakup Extensional Rheometry (CaBER) experiment, of from 10 ms to 2000 ms at a temperature of 20° C.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an encapsulated product that includes one or more amino acids, where the one or more amino acids are in the form of a crystal with one or more hydrophobic domains and one or more hydrophobic agents entrapped within the hydrophobic domains of the crystal of the one or more amino acids, the crystal having a hydrophilic exterior. Pharmaceutical and cosmetic compositions comprising the encapsulated product, methods of therapeutically treating a subject with the encapsulated product, as well as methods of in vitro imaging and methods of preparing an encapsulated product are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to microfluidic droplets and, in particular, to multiple emulsion microfluidic droplets. In certain aspects, particles such as gel particles can be prepared in an aqueous carrier from aqueous droplets (or a non-aqueous carrier from non-aqueous droplets). For example, in some embodiments, double-emulsion droplets of a first fluid, surrounded by a second fluid, contained in a carrier fluid may be prepared, where the first fluid forms a gel and the second fluid is removed. For instance, the second fluid may be dissolved in the carrier fluid, or the second fluid may be hardened, then removed, for example, due to a change in pH. Other embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to kits containing such microfluidic droplets, microfluidic devices for making such microfluidic droplets, or the like.

Abstract: The present application discloses water-in-oil emulsions comprising an aqueous internal phase and an oleogel external phase, water-in-oil emulsions comprising a hydrogel aqueous internal phase and an oloegel external phase, compositions comprising water-in-oil emulsions, and methods of delivering an incorporated material to a subject by administering compositions comprising water-in-oil emulsions.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to microparticles and, in particular, to systems and methods for encapsulation within microparticles. In one aspect, the present invention is generally directed to microparticles containing entities therein, where the entities contain an agent that can be released from the microparticles, e.g., via diffusion. In some cases, the agent may be released from the microparticles without disruption of the microparticles. The entities may be, for instance, polymeric particles, hydrogel particles, droplets of fluid, etc. The entities may be contained within a fluid that is, in turn, encapsulated within the microparticle. The agent may be released from the entity into the fluid, and then from the fluid through the microparticle. In such fashion, the release of agent from the microparticle may be controlled, e.g., over relatively long time scales.

Abstract: The present application relates to a microfluidic system and its method for use for the separation of motile sperm from immotile sperm or motile bacteria from immotile bacteria. The system includes a housing having a first end, and a second end, with a passage connecting the first and second ends. There is an inlet at the first end of the housing for charging fluids into the passage and an outlet at the second end of said housing for discharging fluids from the passage. There are one or more corrals within the passage, each of the corrals including a closed side and a partially open side. The closed side of the corrals is closer to the first end than the partially open side, with the closed side and partially open side defining between them a confinement region suitable for retaining motile sperm or motile bacteria.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to microparticles and, in particular, to systems and methods for encapsulation within microparticles. In one aspect, the present invention is generally directed to microparticles containing entities therein, where the entities contain an agent that can be released from the microparticles, e.g., via diffusion. In some cases, the agent may be released from the microparticles without disruption of the microparticles. The entities may be, for instance, polymeric particles, hydrogel particles, droplets of fluid, etc. The entities may be contained within a fluid that is, in turn, encapsulated within the microparticle. The agent may be released from the entity into the fluid, and then from the fluid through the microparticle. In such fashion, the release of agent from the microparticle may be controlled, e.g., over relatively long time scales.

Abstract: The present application relates to a microcapsule comprising a core comprising one or more hydrophobic agents dispersed in a gel matrix; a proteolytically-cleavable outer polymer shell surrounding said core; and an enzymatically-cleavable lipid layer between said core and said shell. Also described are methods of making and using the microcapsules.