Abstract: The invention describes a method for the synthesis of compounds comprising the steps of: (a) compartmentalising two or more sets of primary compounds into microcapsules; such that a proportion of the microcapsules contains two or more compounds; and (b) forming secondary compounds in the microcapsules by chemical reactions between primary compounds from different sets; wherein one or both of steps (a) and (b) is performed under microfluidic control; preferably electronic microfluidic control The invention further allows for the identification of compounds which bind to a target component of a biochemical system or modulate the activity of the target, and which is co-compartmentalised into the microcapsules.

Abstract: The invention describes a method for the synthesis of compounds comprising the steps of: (a) compartmentalising two or more sets of primary compounds into microcapsules; such that a proportion of the microcapsules contains two or more compounds; and (b) forming secondary compounds in the microcapsules by chemical reactions between primary compounds from different sets; wherein one or both of steps (a) and (b) is performed under microfluidic control; preferably electronic microfluidic control The invention further allows for the identification of compounds which bind to a target component of a biochemical system or modulate the activity of the target, and which is co-compartmentalised into the microcapsules.

Abstract: The invention describes a method for isolating one or more genetic elements encoding a gene product having a desired activity, comprising the steps of: (a) compartmentalising genetic elements into microcapsules; and (b) sorting the genetic elements which express the gene product having the desired activity; wherein at least one step is under microfluidic control. The invention enables the in vitro evolution of nucleic acids and proteins by repeated mutagenesis and iterative applications of the method of the invention.

Abstract: A first aspect of the invention refers to a method for producing a hydrogel microsphere, the method comprising the steps of: a. generating by means of a capillary a droplet of controlled size of a first fluid in a gaseous phase, b. dispensing said droplet of a first fluid into a recipient comprising a second fluid, wherein the first fluid is immiscible with the second fluid and wherein the density of the second fluid is lower than the density of the first fluid, c. contacting the droplet of the first fluid with the second fluid, thereby producing a hydrogel microsphere, d. recovering the hydrogel microsphere from the second fluid for storage. A second aspect of the nvention is directed to a hydrogel microsphere obtainable by the method according to the first aspect of the invention. A further aspect of the invention refers to a system for producing a hydrogel microsphere according to any of the second and third aspect.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of biological diagnosis in oncology. It relates to a method and apparatus for detecting and/or characterizing tumor cells by detecting one or more elements of the tumor cell secretome, in particular one or more peptides or proteins, and, in particular, one or more tumor markers. The invention also relates to detecting and/or characterizing droplets of tumor cells and their method of preparation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing solid capsules comprising a compound A, dispersed in a composition C4. The invention also relates to an encapsulation method, to the capsules obtained by this method, to a composition comprising them, as well as to a method using such capsules.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for selecting and recovering products, including providing an emulsion (6) comprising a plurality of drops (4) contained in a carrier fluid (10), each drop comprising an internal fluid (8), measuring at least one physical parameter for several drops (4) of the emulsion (6), classifying at least some of the drops (4) of the emulsion in a class based on measurements obtained during measuring, tagging at least some of the classified drops (4) based on the class of the drop (4), and selectively recovering the drop (4) or part of the drop (4) using the tag of the drop or part of the drop (4).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for selecting and recovering products, comprising the following steps: providing an emulsion (6) comprising a plurality of drops (4) contained in a carrier fluid (10), each drop comprising an internal fluid (8), measuring at least one physical parameter for several drops (4) of the emulsion (6), classifying at least some of the drops (4) of the emulsion in a class based on measurements obtained during the measuring step, tagging at least some of the classified drops (4) based on the class of the drop (4), selectively recovering the drop (4) or part of the drop (4) using the tag of the drop or part of the drop (4).

Abstract: Disclosed is an emulsion production microfluidic device which includes: a first channel, including an entry port configured to inject a phase to be dispersed, a second channel, including an entry port configured to inject a continuous phase and an emulsion exit port, and at least one array of microchannels, a height of each of the microchannels being smaller than a height of the first channel; the second channel includes a first part connected to the outlet of each microchannel and at least a second part along the first part, the first part being between the array of microchannels and the second part, the first part having a height greater that the height of each microchannel, and the second part having a height greater than the height of the first part.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a reaction and a reaction system are provided. The reaction system includes at least one vessel for the reaction medium, which is in fluid communication with an injection tube; at least one vessel for a carrier fluid that is immiscible with the reaction medium, which is in fluid communication with a reaction tube; the injection tube being mounted so as to lead into the reaction tube such that individual drops of the reaction medium can be injected into the reaction tube and into the immiscible carrier fluid, so as to form a train of reaction chambers; at least one detector for monitoring a reaction; a means for classifying the reaction chambers; and at least one means for recirculating reaction chambers in front of at least one detector for monitoring a reaction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for transferring material in a microfluidic or millifluidic device between a droplet of a first droplet train and a droplet of a second droplet train, as well as to the use of this method for the preparation of biological or chemical samples, the implementation of biological or chemical reactions, the screening of a molecule of synthetic or biological origin, or the screening or cultivation of microorganisms. The present invention also relates to a microfluidic or millifluidic device suitable for carrying out the method according to the invention.

Abstract: The invention deals with a dispersion of drops of a first phase in a second phase substantially immiscible with the first phase, the solubility of the first phase in the second phase being less than 5% by mass. Each drop includes a core formed with a first phase and a shell formed with a coacervate layer interposed between the first phase and the second phase. The coacervate layer comprises a first precursor polymer of the coacervate and a second precursor polymer of the coacervate, one of the first phase and of the second phase is aqueous, and the other of the first phase and of the second phase is oily.

Abstract: The invention describes a method for the identification of compounds which bind to a target component of a biochemical system or modulate the activity of the target, comprising the steps of: a) compartmentalising the compounds into microcapsules together with the target, such that only a subset of the repertoire is represented in multiple copies in any one microcapsule; and b) identifying the compound which binds to or modulates the activity of the target; wherein at least one step is performed under microfluidic control. The invention enables the screening of large repertoires of molecules which can serve as leads for drug development.

Abstract: A method for preparing solid microcapsules, comprising the steps of adding under agitation a composition C1 comprising at least one active material to a cross-linkable liquid composition C2, the active material is not an additive to be used in the lubricant, fuel or bitumen industries, drilling sludges or muds, or oil exploration/production, compositions C1 and C2 being immiscible with each other. A first emulsion is obtained comprising droplets of composition C1 dispersed in composition C2, adding under agitation the first emulsion to a liquid composition C3, composition C3 and composition C2 being immiscible with each other, to obtain a second emulsion comprising droplets dispersed in composition C3.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing solid capsules comprising a compound A, dispersed in a composition C4. The invention also relates to an encapsulation method, to the capsules obtained by this method, to a composition comprising them, as well as to a method using such capsules.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing solid capsules comprising a compound A, dispersed in a composition C4.

Abstract: The invention describes a method for isolating one or more genetic elements encoding a gene product having a desired activity, comprising the steps of: (a) compartmentalising genetic elements into microcapsules; and (b) sorting the genetic elements which express the gene product having the desired activity; wherein at least one step is under microfluidic control. The invention enables the in vitro evolution of nucleic acids and proteins by repeated mutagenesis and iterative applications of the method of the invention.

Abstract: A capsule containing at least one mammalian cell, includes a liquid core, and at least one external envelope totally encapsulating the liquid core at its periphery, the external envelope including at least one gelled polyelectrolyte and/or a stiffened biopolymer and being able to retain the liquid core when the capsule is immersed in a gas. The present invention further relates to the method for preparing such a capsule, to a method for screening cosmetic active ingredients as well as a culture method using such capsules.

Abstract: The invention describes a method for the identification of compounds which bind to a target component of a biochemical system or modulate the activity of the target, comprising the steps of: a) compartmentalising the compounds into microcapsules together with the target, such that only a subset of the repertoire is represented in multiple copies in any one microcapsule; and b) identifying the compound which binds to or modulates the activity of the target; wherein at least one step is performed under microfluidic control. The invention enables the screening of large repertoires of molecules which can serve as leads for drug development.

Abstract: The invention describes a method for isolating one or more genetic elements encoding a gene product having a desired activity, comprising the steps of: (a) compartmentalising genetic elements into microcapsules; and (b) sorting the genetic elements which express the gene product having the desired activity; wherein at least one step is under microfluidic control. The invention enables the in vitro evolution of nucleic acids and proteins by repeated mutagenesis and iterative applications of the method of the invention.