Abstract: A method of biochemical identification by: providing a plurality of capture species bound to one or more substrates and suspected of having one or more biological targets affinity bound to at least one capture species; detecting which capture species contain bound biological targets to generate a binding pattern; and identifying the biological target based on the binding pattern. The capture species are independently selected from the group consisting of antimicrobial peptides, cytotoxic peptides, antibiotics, and combinations thereof. A device having the capture species bound to the substrates. At least two of the capture species are capable of multi-specific binding to one or more biological targets and may have overlapping but not identical affinity properties.

Abstract: A composition having: a proanthocyanidin; and a macromolecule, an assembly of macromolecules, a semi-solid, or a solid surface to which the proanthocyanidin is immobilized.

Abstract: A fiber includes one or more layers of polymer surrounding a central lumen, and living animal cells disposed within the lumen and/or within at least one of the one or more layers, wherein the fiber has an outer diameter of between 5 and 8000 microns and wherein each individual layer of polymer has a thickness of between 0.1 and 250 microns. Also disclosed are model tissues including such fibers, and method of making such fibers. The fibers can serve as synthetic blood vessels, ducts, or nerves.

Abstract: A method of biochemical identification by: providing a plurality of capture species bound to one or more substrates and suspected of having one or more biological targets affinity bound to at least one capture species; detecting which capture species contain bound biological targets to generate a binding pattern; and identifying the biological target based on the binding pattern. The capture species are independently selected from the group consisting of antimicrobial peptides, cytotoxic peptides, antibiotics, and combinations thereof. A device having the capture species bound to the substrates. At least two of the capture species are capable of multi-specific binding to one or more biological targets and may have overlapping but not identical affinity properties.

Abstract: A sheath flow system having a channel with first and second fluid transporting structures located on opposing surfaces facing one another across the channel in the top and bottom surfaces of the channel situated so as to transport the sheath fluid laterally across the channel to provide sheath fluid fully surrounding the core solution. At the point of introduction into the channel, the sheath fluid and core solutions flow side by side within the channel or the core solution may be bounded on either side by the sheath fluid. The system is functional over a broad channel size range and with liquids of high or low viscosity.

Abstract: A sheath flow system having a channel with at least one fluid transporting structure located in the top and bottom surfaces situated so as to transport the sheath fluid laterally across the channel to provide sheath fluid fully surrounding the core solution. At the point of introduction into the channel, the sheath fluid and core solutions flow side by side within the channel or the core solution may be bounded on either side by the sheath fluid. The system is functional over a broad channel size range and with liquids of high or low viscosity. A wide variety of shapes of fibers and other materials can be produced from this system through the use of polymerizable material.

Abstract: A sheath flow system having a channel with at least one fluid transporting structure located in the top and bottom surfaces situated so as to transport the sheath fluid laterally across the channel to provide sheath fluid fully surrounding the core solution. At the point of introduction into the channel, the sheath fluid and core solutions flow side by side within the channel or the core solution may be bounded on either side by the sheath fluid. The system is functional over a broad channel size range and with liquids of high or low viscosity. The design can be readily incorporated into microfluidic chips without the need for special manufacturing protocols.

Abstract: A sheath flow system having a channel with at least one fluid transporting structure located in the top and bottom surfaces situated so as to transport the sheath fluid laterally across the channel to provide sheath fluid fully surrounding the core solution. At the point of introduction into the channel, the sheath fluid and core solutions flow side by side within the channel or the core solution may be bounded on either side by the sheath fluid. The system is functional over a broad channel size range and with liquids of high or low viscosity. The design can be readily incorporated into microfluidic chips without the need for special manufacturing protocols.

Abstract: A sheath flow system having a channel with at least one fluid transporting structure located in the top and bottom surfaces situated so as to transport the sheath fluid laterally across the channel to provide sheath fluid fully surrounding the core solution. At the point of introduction into the channel, the sheath fluid and core solutions flow side by side within the channel or the core solution may be bounded on either side by the sheath fluid. The system is functional over a broad channel size range and with liquids of high or low viscosity. A wide variety of shapes of fibers and other materials can be produced from this system through the use of polymerizable material.

Abstract: A magnetic bead trap-and-mixer includes a channel having openings at opposing ends, and a rotor adjacent to the channel and comprising a permanent magnet, wherein the rotor is adapted to apply a magnetic field to the channel of sufficient strength to direct the movement of magnetic beads therein. In aspects, the channel is straight and/or has narrowed end. In further aspects, the rotor generates in the channel areas of areas of strong magnetic fields alternating with areas of very weak magnetic fields and the strong magnetic fields extend entirely across the channel.

Abstract: A sheath flow system having a channel with at least one fluid transporting structure located in the top and bottom surfaces situated so as to transport the sheath fluid laterally across the channel to provide sheath fluid fully surrounding the core solution. At the point of introduction into the channel, the sheath fluid and core solutions flow side by side within the channel or the core solution may be bounded on either side by the sheath fluid. The system is functional over a broad channel size range and with liquids of high or low viscosity. The design can be readily incorporated into microfluidic chips without the need for special manufacturing protocols.

Abstract: A device having: a laminar flow channel for liquids; two or more electrodes; a confining fluid inlet; a sample inlet; and a meter for measuring the impedance of any fluid between the electrodes. The device may have one or more specific binding sites, or it may have sheathing and unsheathing fluid transporting structures. A method of: providing the device; flowing a confining fluid and a conductive liquid that may contain cells or particles through the channel as described herein; and measuring the impedance between the electrodes.

Abstract: A composition having proanthocyanidin compounds having an average degree of polymerization of at least about 6. A method of administering to an immunosuppressed patient or a patient diagnosed with sepsis or septic shock a composition having a proanthocyanidin. A method of administering to a patient diagnosed with a gram negative bacterial infection a composition having proanthocyanidin compounds having an average degree of polymerization of at least about 6.

Abstract: A composition having: a proanthocyanidin; and a macromolecule, an assembly of macromolecules, a semi-solid, or a solid surface to which the proanthocyanidini is immobilized.

Abstract: Displacement assays, under non-equilibrium conditions, are performed by flowing a liquid sample through a membrane having binding elements with binding sites saturated with a labelled form of the analyte. Analyte in the sample displaces, under non-equilibrium conditions, the labelled form of the analyte from the membrane. The displaced labelled form of the analyte may then be detected.

Abstract: Displacement assays, under non-equilibrium conditions, are performed by flowing a liquid sample through a membrane having binding elements with binding sites saturated with a labelled form of the analyte. Analyte in the sample displaces, under non-equilibrium conditions, the labelled form of the analyte from the membrane. The displaced labelled form of the analyte may then be detected.

Abstract: Displacement assays, under non-equilibrium conditions, are performed by flowing a liquid sample through a membrane having binding elements with binding sites saturated with a labelled form of the analyte. Analyte in the sample displaces, under non-equilibrium conditions, the labelled form of the analyte from the membrane. The displaced labelled form of the analyte may then be detected.

Abstract: A displacement-type flow immunoassay is performed using a microcapillary passage. The inner wall of the microcapillary passage has immobilized thereon antibodies to the antigen of interest. Labeled antigen is immunologically bound to the immobilized antibodies. Sample antigen passing through the column displaces the labeled antigen. Downstream, the displaced labeled antigen is detected. The microcapillary format of the present invention enhances the sensitivity of the immunoassay over the sensitivity of displacement-type flow immunoassays performed in a column at similar flow rates.

Abstract: Target moiety is detected by (a) providing an antibody specific to the target, (b) saturating the binding sites of the antibody with a labelled form of the target, (c) flowing a liquid containing the target past the saturated antibody, thereby (d) allowing the target to displace the labelled antigen, and (e) detecting the displaced labelled antigen with a detector for the label.

Abstract: Biological toxins are indirectly detected by using polymerase chain reaction to amplify unique nucleic acid sequences coding for the toxins or enzymes unique to toxin synthesis. Buffer, primers coding for the unique nucleic acid sequences and an amplifying enzyme are added to a sample suspected of containing the toxin. The mixture is then cycled thermally to exponentially amplify any of these unique nucleic acid sequences present in the sample. The amplified sequences can be detected by various means, including fluorescence. Detection of the amplified sequences is indicative of the presence of toxin in the original sample. By using more than one set of labeled primers, the method can be used to simultaneously detect several toxins in a sample.