Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for detecting and identifying potential breast cancer biomarkers in an individual patient. Also disclosed are newly discovered breast cancer markers set forth in Tables I, II and III, associated with the cancerous state of breast cells. It has been discovered that a higher than normal level of expression of any of these markers or combination of these markers correlates with breast cancer in a patient. Methods are provided for detecting the presence of breast cancer in a sample, the absence of breast cancer in a sample, the stage of breast cancer, assessing whether a breast cancer has metastasized, predicting the likely clinical outcome of a breast cancer patient, and with other characteristics of breast cancer that are relevant to prevention, diagnosis, characterization, and therapy of breast cancer in a patient.

Abstract: A method or platform for monoclonal antibody based biomarker discovery is disclosed. The method according to the invention provides for the integration of analyte collection, hybridoma screening and nanovolume integrated mass spectrometry (NVIMS) to achieve a robust screening system that is capable, for example, of cutting 4-6 years off of the classical biomarker discovery and development process. The invention provides a platform for the rapid, high-throughput production, isolation and characterization of, e.g., disease specific biomarkers together with highly specific monoclonal antibodies. The method of the invention has a variety of applications such as, but not limited to, drug testing, biohazard applications, ecological applications, physiological applications and/or pathology screening applications. The method of the invention is also capable of being performed or used as or with a high-throughput screening process or system of the invention.

Abstract: Methods are presented for realizing zero-dispersion segmented flow for transfer of small microfluidic samples onto or within microfluidic analysis or processing devices. Where fluidic systems are in whole or in part made of materials favorable to the zero-dispersion conditions for an indicated solvent/carrier fluid system, the system may be covalently coated to impart the necessary surface properties. This invention is demonstrated in an embodiment where 1 microliter samples (6) are robotically prepared and transferred through 3 meters of capillary tubing (4) to a microcoil NMR probe.

Abstract: A method of preparing an ultra-nanoscale-LC monolithic separation medium for use in capillary columns, or channels in microfabricated devices (microchips), and capillaries prepared by the method are disclosed. The application of moderate positive pressure to both ends of the capillary during the monolith polymerization process permits the preparation of monolithic capillary columns having very low i.d., e.g., 25 ?m and smaller, with enhanced mass transfer properties and low back pressures, and excellent column-to-column reproducibility of retention times.

Abstract: An improved system and method of analyzing sample data that increases the reliability of peak (compound) detection and identification in the presence of chemical and/or random noise. The sample analysis system includes a compound-separating unit for separating constituent compounds in a sample mixture, a compound-analyzing unit for identifying and quantitating at least one of the separated compounds, and a computer for acquiring data from the compound-separating and compound-analyzing units, for generating a multi-dimensional data set incorporating the acquired data, for executing an algorithm for reducing noise in the data set and for detecting peaks (compounds) in the noise-reduced data set, and for identifying/quantitating the detected compounds.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in controlling the temperature of one or more substances passing through one or more microfluidics channels in an analysis device is set forth. The apparatus comprises a heating unit having first and second surfaces. The first surface of the heating unit is constructed so that it is at least partially exposed for cooling of the heating unit. The apparatus also comprises a thermally conductive medium that is disposed proximate the second surface of the heating unit. The one or more microfluidics channels are disposed in the thermally conductive medium. In one embodiment, the one or more microfluidics channels are in the form of a plurality of capillary columns, such as those used in instruments for capillary electrophoresis. Each capillary columns is substantially surrounded by the material forming the thermally conductive medium.