Abstract: A system for isolating preselected cell types from a fluid sample that includes a plurality of cell types includes a cell-capture fluidic chip, and a chip holder configured to receive the cell-capture fluidic chip and to maintain the cell-capture fluidic chip with a substantially fluid-tight seal while in operation. The chip holder is further configured to release the cell-capture fluidic chip to be removed from the chip holder for further processing. The cell-capture fluidic chip includes a substrate, a laser micro-dissection membrane disposed on the substrate, and a channel-defining layer disposed on the laser micro-dissection membrane. The laser micro-dissection membrane has a surface adapted to capture preselected cell types preferentially over other cell types of the plurality of cell types. The channel-defining layer is removable from the laser micro-dissection membrane for further processing of the cell-capture fluidic chip.

Abstract: The present invention provides devices and methods for capturing rare cells. The devices and methods described herein can be used to facilitate the diagnosis and monitoring of metastatic cancers.

Abstract: The invention may provide a microfluidic mixer having a droplet generator and a droplet mixer in selective fluid connection with the droplet generator. The droplet generator comprises first and second fluid chambers that are structured to be filled with respective first and second fluids that can each be held in isolation for a selectable period of time. The first and second fluid chambers are further structured to be reconfigured into a single combined chamber to allow the first and second fluids in the first and second fluid chambers to come into fluid contact with each other in the combined chamber for a selectable period of time prior to being brought into the droplet mixer.

Abstract: A device for capturing preselected cell types from a fluid sample that includes a plurality of cell types includes a substrate, a plurality of nanowires at least one of attached to or integral with a surface of the substrate such that each nanowire of the plurality of nanowires has an unattached end, and a layer of temperature-responsive material formed on at least the unattached end of each of the plurality of nanowires. The layer of temperature-responsive material has a compact configuration at a first temperature and an expanded configuration at a second temperature so as to facilitate release of cells captured at the first temperature to be released at the second temperature.

Abstract: This invention relates, e.g., to a molecular delivery system comprising A. a substrate having a nanostructured surface region which comprises a plurality of nanostructures and, covalently attached to the substrate, multiple copies of a first member of a binding pair; and B. at least one vector nanoparticle which comprises, encapsulated therein, a molecule of interest, and on its surface, multiple copies of second member of the binding pair. Methods of using the molecular delivery system to deliver a molecule of interest to a cell are also described.

Abstract: A microfluidic system has a microfluidic mixer and a sample storage component that is in fluid connection with the microfluidic mixer.

Abstract: New microfluidic devices, useful for carrying out chemical reactions, are provided. The devices are adapted for on-chip solvent exchange, chemical processes requiring multiple chemical reactions, and rapid concentration of reagents.

Abstract: The present invention provides devices and methods for capturing rare cells. The devices and methods described herein can be used to facilitate the diagnosis and monitoring of metastatic cancers.

Abstract: A supramolecular approach has been developed for preparation of size-controllable nanoparticles, from three different molecular building blocks.

Abstract: A microfluidic device allows for different reactions to be conducted in parallel with the use of nanoliter quantities of reagents.

Abstract: A microfluidic chip for at least one of cell culturing and cell assay has a cell culture chamber defined by the microfluidic chip, a first microchannel defined by the microfluidic chip and constructed to provide a fluid path to said cell culture chamber, the microchannel having a pneumatic valve formed therein to permit selective opening and closing of a fluid path to said cell culture chamber, and a second microchannel defined by the microfluidic chip and constructed to provide a fluid path from the cell culture chamber.

Abstract: The invention may provide a microfluidic mixer having a droplet generator and a droplet mixer in selective fluid connection with the droplet generator. The droplet generator comprises first and second fluid chambers that are structured to be filled with respective first and second fluids that can each be held in isolation for a selectable period of time. The first and second fluid chambers are further structured to be reconfigured into a single combined chamber to allow the first and second fluids in the first and second fluid chambers to come into fluid contact with each other in the combined chamber for a selectable period of time prior to being brought into the droplet mixer.

Abstract: This invention provides microfluidic samplers for withdrawing one or more precise micro- or nano-liter volumes of a sample. The invention provides microfabricated automatic systems comprising integrated poly(dimethyl-siloxane) (PDMS) micro fluidics. The sample can be biological samples, including samples from animals or plants. The samples can be fluid or gas. The samples can comprise a biological fluid, such as blood, tears, cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) and the like, from a test subject such as a human or a mouse. The invention also provides methods for making and using the microfluidic samplers of the invention.

Abstract: A microfluidic system has a pipette system comprising a plurality of pipettes, a microfluidic chip arranged proximate the pipette system, an imaging optical detection system arranged proximate the microfluidic chip, and an image processing system in communication with the imaging optical detection system. The microfluidic chip has a plurality of cell culture chambers defined by a body of the microfluidic chip, each cell culture chamber being in fluid connection with an input channel and an output channel defined by the microfluidic chip. The pipette system is constructed and arranged to at least one of inject fluid through the plurality of pipettes into the plurality of input channels or extract fluid through the plurality of pipettes from the plurality of output channels while the microfluidic system is in operation.

Abstract: A micro-fluidic device has a micro-fluidic circuit layer and a charged-particle detection layer disposed proximate the micro-fluidic circuit layer. The micro-fluidic device is constructed to provide a two-dimensional image of charged-particle emissions from a sample within the micro-fluidic circuit layer while in operation. A method of quantification of radioactivity in a biological sample includes directing a fluid containing the biological material into a microfluidic device, detecting charged particles emitted from the biological material with a two-dimensional imaging sensor, and forming a two-dimensional image over time corresponding to radioactivity of the biological sample.

Abstract: New microfluidic devices, useful for carrying out chemical reactions, are provided. The devices are adapted for on-chip solvent exchange, chemical processes requiring multiple chemical reactions, and rapid concentration of reagents.