Abstract: A low-cost and bench-top magnetic resonance relaxometer can be used for ex-vivo biochemical stress tests on plasma/erythrocytes, enabling deep-phenotyping of an individual's oxidative status, susceptibility and capacity.

Abstract: A method of detecting one or more diseased blood cells in a blood sample includes introducing a blood sample into at least one inlet of a microfluidic device comprising one or more linear channels wherein each channel has a length and a cross-section of a height and a width defining an aspect ratio adapted to isolate diseased blood cells along at least one portion of the cross-section of the channel based on reduced deformability of diseased blood cells as compared to non-diseased blood cells, wherein diseased blood cells flow along a first portion of the channel to a first outlet and non-diseased blood cells flow along a second portion of the channel to a second outlet. The one or more channels can be adapted to isolate cells along portions of the cross-section of the channel based on cell size. In some embodiments, the one or more channels can be spiral channels.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device and methods of use thereof in concentrating a species of interest and/or controlling liquid flow in a device. The methods make use of a device comprising a fluidic chip comprising a planar array of channels through which a liquid comprising a species of interest can be made to pass with at least one rigid substrate connected thereto such that at least a portion of a surface of the substrate bounds the channels, and a high aspect ratio ion-selective membrane is embedded within the chip, attached to at least a portion of the channels. The device comprises a unit to induce an electric field in the channel and a unit to induce an electrokinetic or pressure driven flow in the channel.

Abstract: A water stream is passed between two juxtaposed similar ion exchange membranes (AEMs or CEMs), forming an ion depletion and ion enrichment zones when an electric field is applied. As cations are selectively transferred through the CEMs, for example, anions are relocated in order to achieve electro-neutrality, resulting in the concentration drop (increase) in ion depletion (enrichment) zone. Trifurcation of the output channel allows collection of concentrated, dilute and intermediate streams, with the intermediate stream serving as input to the next stage of a serialized implementation.

Abstract: A method and microfluidic device useful for isolating microbes from a blood sample which includes introducing the blood sample into the sample inlet of a spiral microfluidic device; and introducing a second fluid into the sheath inlet of the microfluidic device, wherein the spiral channel terminates in a microbe outlet and a waste outlet, and wherein the spiral channel includes a length, height, and a width that define an aspect ratio adapted to isolate any microbes present in the sample along a first portion of the spiral channel terminating at the microbe outlet, and to isolate red blood cells and leukocytes along a second portion of the spiral channel terminating at the waste outlet; and collecting the microbes from the microbe outlet, thereby isolating the microbes.

Abstract: A micro-fluidic device includes at least one inlet and a curvilinear microchannel having a trapezoidal cross section defined by a radially inner side, a radially outer side, a bottom side, and a top side, the cross section having a) the radially inner side and the radially outer side unequal in height, or b) the radially inner side equal in height to the radially outer side, and wherein the top side has at least two continuous straight sections, each unequal in width to the bottom side.

Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of this disclosure, there is provided a device for performing magnetic resonance relaxometry. The device comprises a radio-frequency spectrometer comprising at least one field-programmable gate array chip; a power amplifier electrically connected with the radio-frequency spectrometer and amplifying an electrical output of the radio-frequency spectrometer, thereby producing an amplified electrical signal comprising between about 0.

Abstract: Between two juxtaposed similar ion exchange membranes (AEMs or CEMs), an ion depletion zone (dde) and ion enrichment zone (den) are generated under an electric field. As cations are selectively transferred through the CEMs, for example, anions are relocated in order to achieve electro-neutrality, resulting in the concentration drop (increase) in ion depletion (enrichment) zone. The concentration drop (i.e. salt removal) is low and spatially gradual at relatively low voltage or current (i.e. Ohmic regime). However, at higher voltage or current (i.e. overlimiting regime), strong electroconvective vortex accelerates cation transport through CEMs, allowing us to “relocate” most salt ions. The flat depletion zone occurs with significantly low ion concentration, and corresponding strong electric field in the zone, and any charged agents (e.g. proteins and bacteria) cannot penetrate this flat zone.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for transporting a therapeutic or cosmetic substance into nanoporous mineralized tissue structures, such as teeth. The method may include contacting the nanoporous mineralized tissue structure with an ionic solution including the therapeutic or cosmetic substance; and simultaneously applying to the nanoporous mineralized tissue structure an electrical potential effective to transport the therapeutic or cosmetic substance into the nanopores of the nanoporous mineralized tissue structure.

Abstract: Ion Concentration Polarization (ICP) purification devices and methods for building massively-parallel implementations of the same, said devices being suitable for separation of salts, heavy metals and biological contaminants from source water.

Abstract: An electrochemical system with reduced limiting-current behavior is disclosed. The electrochemical system is useful for fuel cells and bio-sensors. In part, the invention relates a method of reducing or eliminating limiting-current behavior in the operation electrochemical systems, in particular those with ion-selective membrane or electrochemical electrodes, by spatially reducing the convection near the membrane or the electrode. The invention further relates to electrochemical systems in which micropores, microarrays or pillar arrays are used to reduce convection in comparison to conventional systems without microarrays, micropores or pillar arrays.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device and methods of use thereof for desalting a solution. The methods, inter-alia, make use of a device comprising microchannels, which are linked to conduits, whereby induction of an electric field in the conduit results in the formation of a space charge layer within the microchannel. The space charge layer provides an energy barrier for salt ions and generates an ion depletion zone proximal to the linkage region between the microchannel and the conduit. The method thus enables the removal of salt ions from the region proximal to the conduit and their accumulation in a region distant from the conduit, within the microchannel.

Abstract: This invention provides a method and an apparatus for quickly continuously fractionating biomolecules, such as DNAs, proteins and carbohydrates by taking advantage of differential bidirectional transport of biomolecules with varying physico-chemical characteristics, for example size, charge, hydrophobicity, or combinations thereof, through periodic arrays of microfabricated nanofilters. The passage of biomolecules through the nanofilter is a function of both steric and electrostatic interactions between charged macromolecules and charged nanofilter walls, Continuous-flow separation through the devices of this invention are applicable for molecules varying in terms of any molecular properties (e.g., size, charge density or hydrophobicity) that can lead to differential transport across the nanofilters.

Abstract: This invention provides methods utilizing a microfluidic device that can quickly and accurately discern differences in deformability between individual cells and sets of cells and continuously fractionate populations of cells based on their deformability. This information may be important in disease diagnosis and treatment efficacy monitoring. For example such a device may be able to determine the stage of malarial infection by using red blood cell deformability. Additionally, methods of the invention may be used as a tool to screen drugs that can make cells more flexible in diseases such as sickle cell anemia that causes sickle cell crises. The relatively low manufacturing and operation costs of methods of the invention enable this device to be used in resource-limited settings to diagnose and monitor disease.

Abstract: An electrochemical system with reduced limiting-current behavior is disclosed. The electrochemical system is useful for fuel cells and bio-sensors. In part, the invention relates a method of reducing or eliminating limiting-current behavior in the operation electrochemical systems, in particular those with ion-selective membrane or electrochemical electrodes, by spatially reducing the convection near the membrane or the electrode. The invention further relates to electrochemical systems in which micropores, microarrays or pillar arrays are used to reduce convection in comparison to conventional systems without microarrays, micropores or pillar arrays.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device and methods of use thereof in concentrating a species of interest and/or controlling liquid flow in a device. The methods make use of a device comprising a fluidic chip comprising a planar array of channels through which a liquid comprising a species of interest can be made to pass with at least one rigid substrate connected thereto such that at least a portion of a surface of the substrate bounds the channels, and a high aspect ratio ion-selective membrane is embedded within the chip, attached to at least a portion of the channels. The device comprises a unit to induce an electric field in the channel and a unit to induce an electrokinetic or pressure driven flow in the channel.

Abstract: A method of detecting one or more diseased blood cells in a blood sample includes introducing a blood sample into at least one inlet of a microfluidic device comprising one or more linear channels wherein each channel has a length and a cross-section of a height and a width defining an aspect ratio adapted to isolate diseased blood cells along at least one portion of the cross-section of the channel based on reduced deformability of diseased blood cells as compared to non-diseased blood cells, wherein diseased blood cells flow along a first portion of the channel to a first outlet and non-diseased blood cells flow along a second portion of the channel to a second outlet. The one or more channels can be adapted to isolate cells along portions of the cross-section of the channel based on cell size. In some embodiments, the one or more channels can be spiral channels.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device and methods of use thereof in concentrating a species of interest and/or controlling liquid flow in a device. The methods make use of a device comprising a fluidic chip comprising a planar array of channels through which a liquid comprising a species of interest can be made to pass with at least one rigid substrate connected thereto such that at least a portion of a surface of the substrate bounds the channels, and a high aspect ratio ion-selective membrane is embedded within the chip, attached to at least a portion of the channels. The device comprises a unit to induce an electric field in the channel and a unit to induce an electrokinetic or pressure driven flow in the channel.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for transporting a therapeutic or cosmetic substance into nanoporous mineralized tissue structures, such as teeth. The method may include contacting the nanoporous mineralized tissue structure with an ionic solution including the therapeutic or cosmetic substance; and simultaneously applying to the nanoporous mineralized tissue structure an electrical potential effective to transport the therapeutic or cosmetic substance into the nanopores of the nanoporous mineralized tissue structure.

Abstract: This invention provides a device and methods for increasing the concentration of a charged species in solution, wherein the solution containing the concentrated species is exposed to the environment. Such solution can be formed on a surface or on a tip of a measurement device. The open-environment concentration technique overcomes the disadvantages of in-channel concentration devices, especially by eliminating flow-induced delivery processes that lead to concentration losses. Combined with direct contact dispensing, methods of this invention can be used for various applications such as immunoassay and MALDI-MS.