Abstract: The present disclosure provides materials and methods for the continuous measurement of biomolecules in vivo and in real-time. The present disclosure relates more specifically to using capture agents and detection agents within a microfluidic device to detect and quantify biochemical features of biomarkers, enabling real-time detection and concentration measurements.

Abstract: Fouling on the surface of biomaterials and medical devices by proteins and microorganisms in the body severely hinders device functionality and drastically shortens lifetime. Currently, there is high demand for coatings that mitigate this biofouling. In this invention, the use of polyacrylamides has been explored in hydrogel coatings by building the largest library of acrylamide-based copolymer anti-biofouling hydrogels (>160 combinations) to date. A combinatorial approach was used, exploiting the ease of hydrogel synthesis to examine a high-throughput screening of platelet adhesion, precursor to thrombosis and a common culprit in biofouling. Applicability has been demonstrated of top-performing polyacrylamide-based hydrogel by (i) coating affinity-based electrochemical biosensors in vitro in a whole blood assay, and (ii) through coating an electrochemical aptamer-based device for real-time monitoring of analytes in an in vivo closed-loop system.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for identifying one or more nucleic acid agents, e.g., aptamers, having a desired property from a mixture of candidate nucleic acid agents. The method generally includes immobilizing the mixture of candidate nucleic acid agents onto particles, wherein only a subset of the candidate nucleic acid agents are immobilized on any one of the particles, and wherein the subset is present in multiple copies. The particles are exposed to a target, and particles including candidate nucleic acid agents having the desired property are isolated. In this way, one or more nucleic acid agents having the desired property may be identified. Related compositions and nucleic acid agents identified as having one or more desired properties are also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for identifying one or more nucleic acid agents, e.g., aptamers, having a desired property from a mixture of candidate nucleic acid agents. The method generally includes immobilizing the mixture of candidate nucleic acid agents onto particles, wherein only a subset of the candidate nucleic acid agents are immobilized on any one of the particles, and wherein the subset is present in multiple copies. The particles are exposed to a target, and particles including candidate nucleic acid agents having the desired property are isolated. In this way, one or more nucleic acid agents having the desired property may be identified. Related compositions and nucleic acid agents identified as having one or more desired properties are also provided.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of screening a library of candidate agents by contacting the library with a target in a reaction mixture under a condition of high stringency, wherein the target includes a tag that responds to a controllable force applied to the tag, and passing the members of the library through a microfluidic device in a manner that exposes the library members to the controllable force, thereby displacing members of the library that are bound to the target relative to their unbound counterparts. Kits and systems for use with the methods of the invention are also provided.

Abstract: Screening in a microfluidic device is mediated by a magnetic field that in some manner displaces or otherwise activates the entities of interest. Entities of interest can be identified and/or separated from one or more other components provided to the microfluidic device. Microfluidic devices may have mechanisms that apply a defined magnetic field to a region of the microfluidic device where library members pass through sequentially and/or in parallel.

Abstract: A microfluidic device may employ one or more sorting stations for separating target species from other species in a sample. The separation is driven by magnetophoresis. A sorting station generally includes separate buffer and sample streams. A magnetic field gradient applied to the sorting station deflects the flow path of magnetic particles (which selectively label the target species) from a sample stream into a buffer stream. The buffer stream leaving the sorting station is used to detect or further process purified target species labeled with the magnetic particles.

Abstract: A microfluidic device may employ one or more sorting stations for separating target species from other species in a sample. The separation is driven by magnetophoresis. A sorting station generally includes separate buffer and sample streams. A magnetic field gradient applied to the sorting station deflects the flow path of magnetic particles (which selectively label the target species) from a sample stream into a buffer stream. The buffer stream leaving the sorting station is used to detect or further process purified target species labeled with the magnetic particles.

Abstract: A microfluidic device may employ one or more sorting stations for separating target species from other species in a sample. The separation is driven by magnetophoresis. A sorting station generally includes separate buffer and sample streams. A magnetic field gradient applied to the sorting station deflects the flow path of magnetic particles (which selectively label the target species) from a sample stream into a buffer stream. The buffer stream leaving the sorting station is used to detect or further process purified target species labeled with the magnetic particles.

Abstract: Provided are novel single-stranded oligonucleotide probes that have a triple-stem configuration in the absence of target binding to the target binding sequence. The probes also have a fluorophore and a quencher. In the absence of target binding to the target binding sequence, these single-stranded oligonucleotide probes are capable of forming self-complementary duplexes such that the probe is in the triple-stem configuration and the fluorophore is positioned adjacent the quencher. In the presence of target binding to the target binding sequence, formation of the self-complementary duplexes is inhibited such that the probe is configured to position the fluorophore away from the quencher such that a signal of the fluorophore is detectable. Also provided are methods of using the probes.

Abstract: A microfluidic device may employ one or more sorting stations for separating target species from other species in a sample. The separation is driven by magnetophoresis. A sorting station generally includes separate buffer and sample streams. A magnetic field gradient applied to the sorting station deflects the flow path of magnetic particles (which selectively label the target species) from a sample stream into a buffer stream. The buffer stream leaving the sorting station is used to detect or further process purified target species labeled with the magnetic particles.

Abstract: A microfluidic device may employ one or more sorting stations for separating target species from other species in a sample. The separation is driven by magnetophoresis. A sorting station generally includes separate buffer and sample streams. A magnetic field gradient applied to the sorting station deflects the flow path of magnetic particles (which selectively label the target species) from a sample stream into a buffer stream. The buffer stream leaving the sorting station is used to detect or further process purified target species labeled with the magnetic particles.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of screening a library of candidate agents by contacting the library with a target in a reaction mixture under a condition of high stringency, wherein the target includes a tag that responds to a controllable force applied to the tag, and passing the members of the library through a microfluidic device in a manner that exposes the library members to the controllable force, thereby displacing members of the library that are bound to the target relative to their unbound counterparts. Kits and systems for use with the methods of the invention are also provided.

Abstract: A fluidic device employs one or more sorting stations for separating target species from other species in a sample. At least one of the sorting stations employs a magnetic field gradient to accomplish separation. In addition, the sorting station is integrated on a single substrate with one or more other modules for processing the sample. For example, the fluidic device may include both a sorting station and a separate trapping station that holds some or all components of the sample for additional processing. The trapping station may be located at a position upstream or downstream from the sorting module.

Abstract: A microfluidic device may employ one or more sorting stations for separating target species from other species in a sample. The separation is driven by magnetophoresis. A sorting station generally includes separate buffer and sample streams. A magnetic field gradient applied to the sorting station deflects the flow path of magnetic particles (which selectively label the target species) from a sample stream into a buffer stream. The buffer stream leaving the sorting station is used to detect or further process purified target species labeled with the magnetic particles.

Abstract: Provided are methods, devices and systems that utilize dielectrophoretic forces to separate a target species from a plurality of species in a sample.

Abstract: A packaged MEMS device containing the micro mirrors has mounted on it at least two distinct integrated circuit chips, at least one of which contains the low-voltage digital-to-analog converts and at least one of which contains the high-voltage amplifiers. The integrated circuit chips may be mounted directly to the MEMS package, or they may be indirectly mounted thereto, e.g., by being directly mounted to a multi-chip module which is in turn mounted on the package. Thus, the MEMS package is employed in a dual role, 1) that of package for the MEMS device and 2) the role of a backplane in that it contains mounting places and the wires interconnecting the MEMS device and chips or modules containing the low-voltage digital-to-analog converters and the high-voltage amplifiers.

Abstract: A packaged MEMS device containing the micro mirrors has mounted on it at least two distinct integrated circuit chips, at least one of which contains the low-voltage digital-to-analog converters and at least one of which contains the high-voltage amplifiers. The integrated circuit chips may be mounted directly to the MEMS package, or they may be indirectly mounted thereto, e.g., by being directly mounted to a multi-chip module which is in turn mounted on the package. Thus, the MEMS package is employed in a dual role, 1) that of package for the MEMS device and 2) the role of a backplane in that it contains mounting places and the wires interconnecting the MEMS device and chips or modules containing the low-voltage digital-to-analog converters and the high-voltage amplifiers.

Abstract: Carbon nanotube growth is achieved in a high-yield process. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a furnace chamber is adapted to grow a carbon nanotube device via catalyst islands. The carbon nanotube device includes a catalyst island, such as Fe2O3, and a carbon nanotube extending therefrom. In one more specific implementation, the catalyst island is disposed on a top surface of a substrate. The carbon nanotube device is useful in a variety of implementations and applications, such as in an atomic force microscope (AFM), in resonators (e.g., where a free end of the carbon nanotube is adapted to vibrate) and in electronic circuits (e.g., where the carbon nanotube is electrically coupled between two nodes, such as between the catalyst island and a circuit node). In addition, growing carbon nanotubes with such a catalyst island is particularly useful in the high-yield growth of a large number of nanotubes.

Abstract: The specification describes interconnection techniques for interconnecting large arrays of micromechanical devices on a silicon platform. The problem of interconnection congestion is overcome by routing the interconnections through the substrate. The through interconnections are made by etching vias through the substrate by RIE, oxidizing the via sidewalls, and filling the vias with polysilicon.