Abstract: Here are described core-shell nanoparticles comprising a porous core, a shell layer and sulfur diffused through the pores of the porous core, their use in electrode materials as well as their methods of preparation. Also described are composite materials, electrode materials, electrodes, and electrochemical cells comprising the core-shell nanoparticles and their use in lithium sulfur batteries.

Abstract: There is provided a test strip assembly for detecting the possible presence of at least one analyte in a sample, a device for detecting the possible presence of at least one analyte in a sample comprising the test strip assembly and methods of detecting the possible presence of at least one analyte in a sample using the device.

Abstract: A polymeric composition comprising (i) a plurality of monomers selected from (a) a carboxylic acryloyi monomer; (b) a sulfonic acryloyi monomer; (c) an amine acryloyi monomer; (d) a hydroxyl acryloyi monomer; (e) an alkyl acryloyi monomer; and (f) a polyalkylene hydroxyl acryloyi monomer; (ii) a divalent metallic crosslinking agent; and (c) a stabilizing agent is disclosed herein. Also provided are the use of said polymeric composition as a hydrogel coating material, a method of synthesizing the polymeric composition and the use of the hydrogel material.

Abstract: A multiplexed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) DNA detection system and a method for DNA detection within the PCR system are provided. The PCR DNA detection system includes a color charge-coupled device (CCD) camera, fluorophore-quencher probes and an imaging chamber. The fluorophore-quencher probes are selected in response to fluorophores quenched by the fluorophore-quencher probes corresponding to three selected primary colors and peak channel responses of the CCD camera such that emission profiles of the fluorophores substantially match the three selected primary colors and peak emission profiles of the fluorophores correspond to the peak RGB channel responses of the CCD camera. A DNA sample and the fluorophore-quencher probes are located within the imaging chamber. The color CCD camera is focused on the imaging chamber for simultaneous detection of up to three targets from fluorescence of the DNA sample and the fluorophore-quencher probes.

Abstract: A method and kit for detecting a genetic variant associated with a disease or disorder, including incompatibility with a pharmaceutical. The method and kit using a first nano-particle coupled to at least one morpholino nucleic acid probe comprising a target complimentary region base sequence that is a perfect match to a genetic variant sequence.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and kits for determining the presence of a mutation selected from the group consisting of 1555A>G and 1494C>T in human Mitochondrially Encoded 12S RNA (MTRNR1) gene in a sample from a subject, comprising, inter alia, amplifying at least part of the MTRNR1 gene and detecting the amplified DNA with a plasmonic gold nanoparticle covalently coupled to a morpholino oligonucleotide probe. The claimed method may be used for determining the risk of a subject to Aminoglycoside-induced hearing loss.

Abstract: There is provided a polymeric microsphere comprising a thermally responsive monomer crosslinked with a functional group monomer, wherein the functional group monomer comprises at least one of a carboxylic acid functional group or an amine functional group. The thermally responsive monomer is preferably N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM), and the microspheres preferably comprise a coating of polymerized catecholamines (e.g. DOPA). There is also provided a method of preparing the polymeric microsphere and uses of the polymeric microsphere in culturing, harvesting, or expanding stem cells or stromal cells. Preferably, the cells, e.g. hMSCs (human mesenchymal stem/stromal cells), are expanded or harvested in serum-free and xeno-free medium.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a multiplex diagnostic method and related kits thereof for detecting the presence of different target analytes in a sample, the method comprising providing the sample and a plurality of reporter particles such as gold nanoparticles having ? different colours to a substrate, the substrate having a assigned spatial regions; and determining, on the substrate, the presence of a colour arising from the reporter particles in each of ? assigned spatial regions on the substrate, wherein each of the assigned spatial regions on the substrate is configured to immobilize a target analyte that is different from the other assigned spatial regions, wherein reporter particles of each different colour are configured to couple to a target analyte that is different from the reporter particles of the other different colours, and wherein ? is an integer that is at least two and ? is an integer that is at least two.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a microarray device for detecting a target molecule such as miRNA in a sample. The device comprises a carrier substrate such as glass, an anti-fouling polymer layer which is functionalised with N-Hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) or carboxyl-groups and a capture probe. In an embodiment, the capture probe is an oligonucleotide with a stem-loop structure. The invention further defines a method for fabricating the device, a kit for detecting the target nucleic acid molecule comprising the device and a detection probe.

Abstract: A liquid sensor for a diaper, and method of manufacturing the same are provided. The liquid sensor includes a plurality of electrochemical cells in series connection. Each of the plurality of electrochemical cells includes an anode, a cathode and a liquid-porous layer including an electrolyte solution. The liquid-porous layer electrically connects the anode to the cathode such that each cell has a respective predetermined potential difference across the cell. Two or more of the plurality of electrochemical cells are operable to be electrically connected by a liquid to form a single electrochemical cell having a potential difference lower than the sum of the predetermined potential differences of the two or more electrochemical cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sensor for detecting one or more target analytes, the sensor comprising: at least one polymeric sensing element capable of selectively and reversibly binding to a target analyte; at least one working electrode having the polymeric sensing element disposed thereon; at least one reference electrode that is electrically communicated with said working electrode; and means for measuring a change in an electrical property across said working electrode and said reference electrode. In particular, the target analyte is Na+, urea or creatinine. Also disclosed is a multi-layered sensor, comprising at least one working electrode layer and at least one reference electrode layer, said working electrode layer and said reference electrode layer being separated by at least one electrically insulating layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to micellar nanocomplexes and a method of forming the same. The micellar nanocomplex comprises a micelle and an agent encapsulated within said micelle, where the micelle comprises a polymer-flavonoid conjugate, wherein said polymer is bonded to the B ring of said flavonoid. The micellar nanocomplex may have useful applications as a drug-delivery system.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device for liquid removal in particle-based preparative and analytical assays. The device utilizes a porous membrane to contain a liquid in the reaction chamber of the assay. The membrane enables the liquid to flow through once it comes in contact with a detachable absorbent pad. The combined use of the porous membrane and the absorbent pad allows for effective removal of the waste liquid by capillary force, thereby minimizing the carryover contamination caused by the residual liquid. The invention also relates to arrays comprising the device and assay methods using the device. It was possible to isolate DNA with high purity on a sieve-through platform using particle-based solid-phase extraction with the device. Particle-based ELISA was run on the sieve-through device to analyze proteins and cells with reduced background and greater signal-to-background ratio.

Abstract: There is provided a microfluidic device comprising: a plurality of wells, each well having an inlet and an outlet, wherein the inlets are in fluid communication with one or more entry channels and the outlets are in fluid communication with one or more exit channels, wherein said outlet is connected to the exit channel via an outlet connecting channel and said inlet is connected to the entry channel via an inlet connecting channel wherein the dimension of the outlet connecting channel is configured such that the surface tension of a liquid comprised in the well prevents the release of the liquid through the outlet connecting channel. There is also provided a system, method and use of the device.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a method for preparing metal oxide nanosheets. In a preferred embodiment, graphene oxide (GO) or graphite oxide is employed as a template or structure directing agent for the formation of the metal oxide nanosheets, wherein the template is mixed with metal oxide precursor to form a metal oxide precursor-bonded template. Subsequently, the metal oxide precursor-bonded template is calcined to form the metal oxide nanosheets. The present invention also relates to a lithium-ion battery anode comprising the metal oxide nanosheets. In a further preferred embodiment, the battery anode may comprising reduced template, which is reduced graphene oxide (rGO) or reduced graphite oxide.

Abstract: There is provided a method of differentiating an induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) into a renal proximal tubular cell (PTC)-like cell. The method comprises culturing an undifferentiated iPSC in a renal epithelial cell culture medium in the presence of one or more extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules, bone morphogenic protein 2 (BMP2) and bone morphogenic protein 7 (BMP7), for a period of from about 8 to about 10 days, under conditions sufficient to induce differentiation of the iPSC into a PTC-like cell. A cell population of differentiated PTC-like cells is also provided, as well as uses and methods of use of the cell population.

Abstract: There is provided a method for culturing a stem cell in vitro. The method comprises providing a substrate surface coated with a coating comprising a molecule having a catechol moiety or a polymer thereof; and growing a stem cell on said coated substrate surface in a growth medium.

Abstract: The present application relates to methods of detecting a mutation in a target nucleic acid molecule. Two phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomer probes that differ by at least one base are each covalently coupled to a nano article and hybridized to a target sequence. The melting temperature of the complexes between each of the two probes and the target nucleic acid are measured and compared to determine whether the sample contains a nucleic acid with the mutation. Further, the present invention relates to kits comprising a first and second conjugate as described herein and to the use of such kits for the detection of mutations in a target nucleic acid molecule or for assigning a genotype to a target nucleic acid molecule.

Abstract: A method and kit for detecting a genetic variant associated with a disease or disorder, including incompatibility with a pharmaceutical. The method and kit using a first nano-particle coupled to at least one morpholino nucleic acid probe comprising a target complimentary region base sequence that is a perfect match to a genetic variant sequence.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and kits for determining the methylation status of a target nucleic acid molecule in a sample comprising (a) bisulfite treatment of the target nucleic acid, (b) amplifying the treated target nucleic acid with methylation-specific primers, (c) contacting the amplicons with a methylation-specific plasmonic nanoprobe and (d) determining the methylation status based on melting temperature Tm of the hybrid probe and the target nucleic acid. In particular, a plasmonic gold nanoparticle covalently coupled to a morpholino oligonucleotide probe. Also claimed are methods and kits for determining methylation status of the Septin 9 (SEPT9) gene promoter.