Abstract: The invention relates to a diagnostic element. The diagnostic element comprises an inlet passage, a holding port and an outlet passage. The holding port is capable of encapsulating a diagnostic gel. The invention also relates to a diagnostic device that comprises at least one inlet port, a preparation port, a diagnostic element that comprises an inlet passage, a holding port, an outlet passage and an outlet port.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides a method for making a hydrophilic-silk composition. The method includes providing at least one strand of silk fiber, treating the silk fiber with an alkaline solution to provide at least one strand of degummed silk fiber, and treating the degummed silk fiber with a treatment solution to provide a hydrophilic-silk composition. The degummed silk fiber or the hydrophilic-silk composition is further immobilized with at least one reagent to make a silk-based diagnostic composition. The invention provides a silk-based diagnostic composition made by the method of the invention, and a diagnostic device that comprises the silk-based diagnostic composition. In another aspect, the invention provides a method of making a diagnostic device.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides a method for making a hydrophilic-silk composition. The method includes providing at least one strand of silk fiber, treating the silk fiber with an alkaline solution to provide at least one strand of degummed silk fiber, and treating the degummed silk fiber with a treatment solution to provide a hydrophilic-silk composition. The degummed silk fiber or the hydrophilic-silk composition is further immobilized with at least one reagent to make a silk-based diagnostic composition. The invention provides a silk-based diagnostic composition made by the method of the invention, and a diagnostic device that comprises the silk-based diagnostic composition. In another aspect, the invention provides a method of making a diagnostic device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a diagnostic gel composition for use as a diagnostic element in diagnostic devices. The diagnostic gel composition is derived from a compound having a formula D-Sp-Po wherein D is a diagnostic group; Sp is a hydrophilic spacer group; and Po is a polymerizable group. The diagnostic gel composition of the invention has dimensions ranging from about 250 nanometers to about 1000 micrometers, and a Young's modulus ranging from about 10 kilopascals to about 200 kilopascals. The invention also provides method for making the diagnostic gel composition. The method comprises providing a composition comprising a porogen, an initiator and a compound having a formula D-Sp-Po; polymerizing the composition to form a polymerized composition; and washing the polymerized composition to form the diagnostic gel composition.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides a method for making a hydrophilic-silk composition. The method includes providing at least one strand of silk fiber, treating the silk fiber with an alkaline solution to provide at least one strand of degummed silk fiber, and treating the degummed silk fiber with a treatment solution to provide a hydrophilic-silk drophilic-silk composition. The degummed silk fiber or the hydrophilic-silk composition is further immobilized with at least one reagent to make a silk-based diagnostic composition. The invention provides a silk-based diagnostic composition made by the method of the invention, and a diagnostic device that comprises the silk-based diagnostic composition. In another aspect, the invention provides a method of making a diagnostic device.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides a method for making a hydrophilic-silk composition. The method includes providing at least one strand of silk fiber, treating the silk fiber with an alkaline solution to provide at least one strand of degummed silk fiber, and treating the degummed silk fiber with a treatment solution to provide a hydrophilic-silk composition. The degummed silk fiber or the hydrophilic-silk composition is further immobilized with at least one reagent to make a silk-based diagnostic composition. The invention provides a silk-based diagnostic composition made by the method of the invention, and a diagnostic device that comprises the silk-based diagnostic composition. In another aspect, the invention provides a method of making a diagnostic device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for making a diagnostic element. The method comprises providing a shaped channel comprising at least one holding port and an inlet passage and outlet passage on either side of the holding port; flowing in a diagnostic gel into the inlet passage of the shaped channel; and encapsulating the diagnostic gel in the at least one holding port to form a diagnostic element. The invention also provides a method for using a diagnostic element, wherein the method comprises flowing sample through the diagnostic gel to provide an analyte diagnostic gel; analyzing the analyte diagnostic gel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a diagnostic element. The diagnostic element comprises an inlet passage, a holding port and an outlet passage. The holding port is capable of encapsulating a diagnostic gel. The invention also relates to a diagnostic device that comprises at least one inlet port, a preparation port, a diagnostic element that comprises an inlet passage, a holding port, an outlet passage and an outlet port.

Abstract: The invention relates to a diagnostic gel composition for use as a diagnostic element in diagnostic devices. The diagnostic gel composition is derived from a compound having a formula D-Sp-Po wherein D is a diagnostic group; Sp is a hydrophilic spacer group; and Po is a polymerizable group. The diagnostic gel composition of the invention has dimensions ranging from about 250 nanometers to about 1000 micrometers, and a Young's modulus ranging from about 10 kilopascals to about 200 kilopascals. The invention also provides method for making the diagnostic gel composition. The method comprises providing a composition comprising a porogen, an initiator and a compound having a formula D-Sp-Po; polymerizing the composition to form a polymerized composition; and washing the polymerized composition to form the diagnostic gel composition.