Abstract: A droplet gripper for a polarizable droplet including a top plate formed of magnetically responsive material and movable in a defined sequence in response to a regionalized electromagnetic field. The gripper further has electret sheets downwardly depending from the top plate. The electret sheets are separated from each other and are chargeable to the same polarities so as to capture the droplet between them due to electret-induced polarization on droplet (EPD). The gripper may be included in a Multiphysics droplet robotic system for automatically manipulating and moving a liquid droplet. The system includes a programmable control matrix that generates a movable regionalized electromagnetic field through coils so as to engage the magnetic material on the top plate and move the EPD gripper and a captured polarizable drop in the defined sequence along a specific path as well as to achieve other microfluidic operations according to a control matrix program.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ultrasensitive rapid antigen detection kit for detecting N protein from SARS-CoV-2 virus in a sample, and methods for detecting N protein. The kit includes a sample collector, a collection and enrichment tube and a rapid antigen detection component with a test strip. The collection and enrichment tube contains a first part containing lyophilized ATPS reagents and a second part containing a lysis buffer. The sample is mixed with the lyophilized ATPS reagents and the lysis buffer to form a mixture. The enrichment is realized by concentrating the target analyte into one of the two phases formed by ATPS.

Abstract: An electronically-controlled digital ferrofluidic device is disclosed which employs a network of individually addressable coils in conjunction with one or more movable permanent magnets, where each moveable permanent magnet delivers the designated fluid manipulation-based tasks. The underlying mechanism facilitating fluidic operations is realized by addressable electromagnetic actuation of miniaturized mobile magnets that exert localized magnetic body forces on droplets filled with magnetic nanoparticles. The reconfigurable, contactless, and non-interfering magnetic-field operation properties of the underlying actuation mechanism allow for the integration of passive and active components to implement advanced and diverse operations with high efficiency (e.g., droplet sorting, dispensing, generation, merging, mixing, filtering, and analysis).

Abstract: Active biofluid management may be advantageous to the realization of wearable bioanalytical platforms that can autonomously provide frequent, real-time, and accurate measures of biomarkers in epidermally-retrievable biofluids (e.g., sweat). Accordingly, exemplary implementations include a programmable epidermal microfluidic valving system capable of biofluid sampling, routing, and compartmentalization for biomarker analysis. An exemplary system includes a network of individually-addressable microheater-controlled thermo-responsive hydrogel valves, augmented with a pressure regulation mechanism to accommodate pressure built-up, when interfacing sweat glands. The active biofluid control achieved by this system may be harnessed to create unprecedented wearable bioanalytical capabilities at both the sensor level (decoupling the confounding influence of flow rate variability on sensor response) and the system level (facilitating context-based sensor selection/protection).

Abstract: A device for biofluid processing and analysis includes a microfluidic module including multiple stacked layers, each layer of the stacked layers defines a respective conduit, and conduits of the stacked layers are interconnected to provide a flow path for a biofluid.