Abstract: An apparatus for regulating salt concentration, a lab-on-a-chip including the same and a method of regulating salt concentration using the apparatus are provided. The apparatus includes: a reaction chamber that is defined by a cation exchange membrane and an anion exchange membrane and is selected from the group consisting of a biomolecule extraction chamber, an amplification chamber, a hybridization chamber, and a detection chamber; a first electrode chamber that is defined by the anion exchange membrane and a first electrode and includes an ion exchange medium; and a second electrode chamber that is defined by the cation exchange membrane and a second electrode and includes an ion exchange medium. Even without injecting solutions with different salt concentrations into the reaction chamber by operating pumps and valves for each operation stage, the salt concentration can be reversibly regulated in situ by adjusting the polarity, intensity and application time of a voltage.

Abstract: Provided is a fluid mixing device which produces a series of solutions with a concentration gradient. The fluid mixing device includes: a plurality of first channels disposed parallel to each other on a layer, and into which an equal amount of diluent flows from its upstream; a plurality of second channels formed perpendicular to the first channels on an adjacent layer to the layer on which the first channels are formed, and into which an equal amount of sample solution flows from its upstream; and via holes formed at at least one intersection between each of the first channel and a plurality of second channels so that a predetermined amount of sample solution flows from the second channels into corresponding first channels, wherein a series of solutions with different concentrations is produced in the first channels depending on the amount of sample solution that flows into the first channels through the via holes. Thus, a series of solutions with different concentrations is output from the first channels.

Abstract: A method of separating cells or viruses using alumina is provided. The method includes: contacting a solution containing cells or viruses with alumina; and washing the alumina having cells or viruses bound thereto. According to the method, the separation efficiency of cells or viruses can be increased, the detection limit for cells or viruses can be improved, and a sample can be rapidly prepared.

Abstract: Provided is a method of separating cells using a hydrophobic solid support. The method comprises contacting a solution containing cells with a hydrophobic solid support having a water contact angle between 70 and 90 degrees. By allowing cells to be adsorbed to the hydrophobic solid substrate, the cells can be separated. Thus, the cell separation efficiency can be rapidly and simply increased.

Abstract: Provided are a microfluidic chip for multiple bioassay and a method of manufacturing the same. The method includes: forming microfluidic channels by coupling a channel structure having grooves for sample channels and probe channels in a bottom surface and a substrate; forming probe immobilization regions at intersections between the probe channels and the sample channels; and forming blocking walls in the probe channels before and after each of the probe immobilization regions to prevent mixing of target sample. Since the probes are immobilized in the microfluidic channels after the formation of the microfluidic channels, difficulty in connecting fluidic channels after the immobilization of probes on a substrate can be removed. In addition, a microfluidic platform for a multiple bioassay into which a plurality of samples can be simultaneously loaded can be formed.

Abstract: Provided are a sensing switch and a sensing method using the same. The sensing switch includes: a substrate; a supporter on the substrate; a sensing plate that is connected to a side of the supporter and is in parallel with the substrate by a predetermined distance; a receptor binding region on an upper surface of an end portion of the sensing plate; an electric or magnetic field generation device that induces deflection of the sensing plate when a receptor bound to the receptor binding region is selectively bound to an electrically or magnetically active ligand; and a pair of switching electrodes that are separated by a predetermined distance and is connected when the sensing plate contacts the substrate due to the deflection of the sensing plate. A target material need not be labelled, a signal processing of a fluorescent or electrical detection signal using an analysis apparatus is not required, and a signal can be directly decoded by confirming whether a current flows through the switch.

Abstract: Provided is a method of controlling the pH of a solution using electrolysis in a microfluidic device comprising an electrolysis device including an anode chamber, a cathode chamber, and a partition membrane between the anode chamber and the cathode chamber, wherein the anode chamber includes an inlet and an outlet through which an anode chamber solution enters and is discharged from the anode chamber, respectively, and an electrode, and the cathode chamber includes an inlet and an outlet through which a cathode chamber solution enters and is discharged from the cathode chamber, respectively, and an electrode.

Abstract: Provided are nucleic acid isolation unit and method. The method includes immobilizing an aromatic compound-containing nucleic acid intercalator on a solid support; contacting a first buffer solution containing a nucleic acid sample to be purified to the intercalator immobilized on the solid support to bind the intercalator with nucleic acids contained in the nucleic acid sample; cleaning the resultant structure where the nucleic acids are bound to the intercalator immobilized on the solid support; and eluting the nucleic acids with a second buffer solution.

Abstract: A method of isolating nucleic acid from a sample containing nucleic acid is provided. The method includes contacting the sample with a bifunctional material that contains an amino group and a carboxyl group and is positively charged at a first pH to allow binding of the nucleic acid to the bifunctional material; and extracting the nucleic acid at a second pH higher than the first pH from the complex.

Abstract: Provided is a method of isolating and purifying nucleic acids using an immobilized hydrogel or polyethylene glycol (PEG)-hydrogel copolymer. The method includes: immobilizing a functional group-containing hydrogel or PEG-hydrogel copolymer on a substrate; adding a mixed sample solution containing a salt and nucleic acids to the hydrogel- or PEG-hydrogel copolymer-immobilized substrate to bind the nucleic acids to the hydrogel or the PEG-hydrogel copolymer; washing the nucleic acid-bound hydrogel or PEG-hydrogel copolymer; and eluting the nucleic acids from the hydrogel or the PEG-hydrogel copolymer using an elution solvent. Therefore, binding and elution of nucleic acids can be performed even with no addition of a separate chemical substance, and an effect on a subsequent process such as PCR can be minimized. Furthermore, the amount and intensity for binding nucleic acids can be adjusted according to PEG concentration, and the presence of a hydrogel compound on a substrate enables patterning.

Abstract: Provided are a microfluidic device including an electrolysis device for cell lysis which includes an anode chamber, a cathode chamber and a separator, in which the separator is installed between the anode chamber and the cathode chamber, the anode chamber includes an inlet and an outlet for an anode chamber solution and an electrode, and the cathode chamber includes an inlet and an outlet for a cathode chamber solution and an electrode, and a method of electrochemically lysing cells using the same.

Abstract: Provided is a method of purifying nucleic acids using hydrogen bonding and an electric field, including: bringing a sample containing target nucleic acids into contact with an electrode coated with a material capable of forming hydrogen bonds with the target nucleic acids; applying a positive voltage to the electrode to move the target nucleic acids closer to the electrode so as to form hydrogen bonds with the material on the electrode; washing the electrode; and applying to the electrode a negative voltage to elute the bound target nucleic acids. According to the method, selectivity to nucleic acids and proteins increases due to hydrogen bonding, nucleic acid purification is possible within a short time through an electric field, and the bound nucleic acids can be efficiently eluted.

Abstract: Provided is a lysis method for cells or viruses, including: immobilizing a metal-ligand complex on a solid support; and mixing the complex immobilized on the support with a cell or virus solution. According to the lysis method, by immobilizing a chemical on a solid support to perform cell lysis, the dilution problem according to the addition of a cell lysis solution can be resolved and a separate process of removing the chemical is not required so as to reduce the steps upon LOC implementation. In addition, since a variety of solid supports, such as chips, beads, nanoparticles etc. can be used, cell lysis apparatuses of various forms can be fabricated.

Abstract: There is provided a biomolecule FET enhancing a sensitivity. The biomolecule FET includes a substrate, first and second impurity regions formed on both sides of the substrate, and doped with impurities of a polarity opposite to that of the substrate, a gate formed on the substrate and being in contact with the first and second impurity regions, and a probe biomolecule attached to the gate. A region of the gate adjacent to the first impurity region is wider than a region thereof adjacent to the second impurity region. A density of the probe biomolecule attached to the surface of the gate is increased, and when detecting a level of hybridization of the probe biomolecule and the target biomolecule, its sensitivity is improved.

Abstract: Provided are a method and apparatus for amplifying nucleic acids. The method includes introducing into a reaction vessel via different inlet channels a reactant aqueous solution containing reactants for nucleic acid amplification and a fluid that is phase-separated from the reactant aqueous solution and does not participate in amplification reaction, creating a plurality of reactant aqueous solution droplets surrounded by the fluid by contacting the reactant aqueous solution with the fluid in the reaction vessel, and amplifying the nucleic acids in the reactant aqueous solution droplets.

Abstract: A method for amplifying a nucleic acid using a solid phase material coated with a carboxyl group or an amino group is provided. The method includes contacting a mixture of a nucleic acid containing sample and a salt solution with the solid phase material coated with a carboxyl group or an amino group to form a nucleic acid-solid phase material complex, washing the nucleic acid-solid phase material complex with a wash buffer, and adding a reaction solution for amplifying a nucleic acid to the nucleic acid-solid phase material complex to perform an amplification reaction.

Abstract: A method of isolating nucleic acid using a carbon nanotube is provided. The method includes contacting a mixture of a sample containing nucleic acid and a salt solution with a carbon nanotube to form a nucleic acid-carbon nanotube composite; washing the nucleic acid-carbon nanotube composite with a washing buffer; and eluting the nucleic acid from the nucleic acid-carbon nanotube composite.

Abstract: A method for isolating a nucleic acid is provided. The method includes mixing a nucleic acid-containing sample, a salt solution, and alumina; isolating the alumina having the nucleic acid attached thereto from the liquid; washing the alumina having the nucleic acid attached thereto; and eluting the nucleic acid from the alumina.

Abstract: A curtain air bag includes a diffuser having an opening that emits operation gas, placed at a predetermined area along an inner side of a roof rail, a first cushion divided into first and second areas that limits a front seat and a rear seat, a third area that forms a front area of the first area, and a fourth area placed between the first area and the second area. The curtain airbag further includes a plurality of cushion holders that fix the first cushion into the roof rail by coupling to the top of the first cushion, a first downwardly extended portion of the first cushion connected to a lower surface of the first area and providing a predetermined area to protect ribs of a passenger sitting in the front seat, a second downwardly extended portion of the first cushion connected to a lower part of the second area and providing a predetermined area to protect ribs of a passenger sitting in the rear seat.

Abstract: The present invention provides an air bag assembly for installing a housing equipped with an inflator in the crush pad of the passenger seat and exposing an air bag door, which includes an upper housing coupled to the upper surface of the housing and has a penetrated hole in the center of the lower surface and a plurality of fixed holes in both upright surfaces. The air bag also includes a retainer, whose refracted part is coupled to the inside of the side surface of the upper housing, which is separated at a predetermined interval as much as the width of the refracted part to make a space from the side surface, a locking part which is created as a form of wedge in the inserting part of the lower surface of an air bag door to be inserted into the fixed hole by being inserted into the upper housing and the space of the retainer.