Abstract: A microfluidic magnetic selector comprises a microfluidic channel comprising at least one bifurcation, forming a selection portion of the selector and splitting the microfluidic channel into a main channel and at least one selection channel; at least one magnetic flux concentrator for concentrating a magnetic flux at the level of the bifurcation, and means for generating a magnetic field within the magnetic flux concentrator, and a controller for controlling magnetic pulses through the magnetic flux concentrator.

Abstract: A device and method for sorting objects immersed in a flowing medium are described. An example device comprises a holographic imaging unit comprising a plurality of holographic imaging elements, a fluid handling unit comprising a plurality of microfluidic channels for conducting flowing medium along a corresponding holographic imaging element and a microfluidic switch arranged downstream of an imaging region in the microfluidic channel for directing each object in the flowing medium into a one of a plurality of outlets. The example device also comprises a processing unit configured to determine real-time characterizations of holographic diffraction images obtained for each of the moving objects, with each real-time characterization accounting for at least one predetermined object-type signature. The processing unit is further adapted for controlling the microfluidic switches in response to the real-time characterizations.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a device for analyzing a fluid sample. In one aspect, the device includes a fluidic substrate that comprises a micro-fluidic component embedded in the fluidic substrate configured to propagate a fluid sample via capillary force through the device and a means for providing a fluid sample connected to the micro-fluidic component. The device also includes a lid attached to the fluidic substrate at least partly covering the fluidic substrate and at least partly closing the micro-fluidic component. The fluidic substrate may be a silicon fluidic substrate and the lid may be a CMOS chip. In another aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method for fabricating such a device, and the method may include providing a fluidic substrate, providing a lid, and attaching, through a CMOS compatible bonding process, the fluidic substrate to the lid to close the fluidic substrate at least partly.

Abstract: An active sieve device for the isolation and characterization of bio-analytes is provided, comprising a substrate for supporting the bio-analytes. The substrate comprises a plurality of interconnections and a plurality of regions, each region comprising a hole and at least one electrode embedded in or located on the substrate and electrically associated with the hole. Each region further comprises at least one transistor integrated in the substrate and operably connected to the at least one electrode and to at least one of the plurality of interconnections.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a SERS sensing device (100), the method comprising: providing a silicon substrate (101), creating a silane layer (102) on a surface of the silicon substrate (101), and creating a plurality of plasmonic nanostructures (103) on the silane layer (102), characterized in that: creating a plurality of plasmonic nanostructures (103) on the silane layer (102) comprises completely covering the silane layer (102) with a metallic plasmonic layer (104). Further a SERS sensing device is presented which is implantable.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a population of monodisperse magnetic nanoparticles with a diameter between 1 and 100 nm which are coated with a layer with hydrophilic end groups. Herein the layer with hydrophilic end groups comprises an inner layer of monosaturated and/or monounsaturated fatty acids bound to said nanoparticles and bound to said fatty acids, an outer layer of a phospholipid conjugated to a monomethoxy polyethyleneglycol (PEG) comprising a hydrophilic end group, or comprises a covalently bound hydrophilic layer bound to said nanoparticles.

Abstract: In a first aspect, a micro-fluidic device is presented, comprising: a micro-fluidic channel having an inner surface; a sensing region inside the micro-fluidic channel configured for adsorbing at least one analyte, the sensing region comprising a plurality of pillars positioned along the length of the inner surface of the micro-fluidic channel wherein the plurality of pillars are configured for creating an electromagnetic field localization thereby making the sensing region suitable for sensing plasmonic or surface enhanced Raman signals when irradiated; characterized in that: the plurality of pillars are further configured for creating a capillary action in the micro-fluidic channel when a fluid sample is present in the micro-fluidic channel.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a device for analyzing a fluid sample. In one aspect, the device includes a fluidic substrate that comprises a micro-fluidic component embedded in the fluidic substrate configured to propagate a fluid sample via capillary force through the device and a means for providing a fluid sample connected to the micro-fluidic component. The device also includes a lid attached to the fluidic substrate at least partly covering the fluidic substrate and at least partly closing the micro-fluidic component. The fluidic substrate may be a silicon fluidic substrate and the lid may be a CMOS chip. In another aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method for fabricating such a device, and the method may include providing a fluidic substrate, providing a lid, and attaching, through a CMOS compatible bonding process, the fluidic substrate to the lid to close the fluidic substrate at least partly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a population of monodisperse magnetic nanoparticles with a diameter between 1 and 100 nm which are coated with a layer with hydrophilic end groups. Herein the layer with hydrophilic end groups comprises an inner layer of monosaturated and/or monounsaturated fatty acids bound to said nanoparticles and bound to said fatty acids, an outer layer of a phospholipid conjugated to a monomethoxy polyethyleneglycol (PEG) comprising a hydrophilic end group, or comprises a covalently bound hydrophilic layer bound to said nanoparticles.

Abstract: A device (1) for sorting objects immersed in a flowing medium is described. The device comprises a holographic imaging unit comprising a plurality of holographic imaging elements (2), a fluid handling unit comprising a plurality of microfluidic channels (3) for conducting flowing medium along a corresponding holographic imaging element (2) and comprising a microfluidic switch (5) arranged downstream of an imaging region in the microfluidic channel for controllably directing each object in the flowing medium into a selected one of a plurality of outlets (6). The device also comprises a processing unit (7) adapted for real-time characterization of the holographic diffraction image obtained for each of the objects thereby taking into account at least one predetermined object type signature. The processing unit (7) furthermore is adapted for controlling the microfluidic switch (5) in response to the characterization.

Abstract: An example micro-fluidic device includes a micro-fluidic channel having an inner surface and a plurality of pillars positioned along the inner surface. The device further includes a plurality of power supplies connected to the pillars. Another example micro-fluidic device includes a micro-fluidic channel having an inner surface and a plurality of pillars positioned along the inner surface. The device further includes a power supply. The pillars are grouped into at least two groups of pillars, each group of pillars including at least two pillars, and all pillars of at least one group of pillars are connected to the power supply. In another example, a sensing system for detecting bioparticles includes a micro-fluidic device, wherein a surface of each pillar comprises functionalized plasmonic nanoparticles or functionalized SERS nanoparticles, a radiation source for radiating the micro-fluidic device, and a detector for detecting SERS signals or surface plasmon resonance.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method to analyze or identify a cell. The method comprises: providing a cell, stimulating the cell with a stimulant thereby modifying a cell membrane impedance of the cell, monitoring the cell membrane impedance of the cell and identifying the cell based on the monitored cell membrane impedance. A corresponding device is also provided.

Abstract: A method (200) for determining a concentration of an analyte in a fluid or fluid sample, comprises: providing (201) a SERS substrate comprising receptor molecules (107) capable of binding competitor molecules (106); contacting (202) the SERS substrate (102) with a fluid (sample) comprising analyte (108) and such competitor molecules (106); radiating (203) the SERS substrate (102) with a light source while measuring a SERS signal; and determining (205) a concentration of the analyte (108) based on the measured signal level. A corresponding device and system are also provided.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus in the field of single molecule sensing are described, e.g. for molecular analysis of analytes such as molecular analytes, e.g. nucleic acids, proteins, polypeptides, peptides, lipids and polysaccharides. Molecular spectroscopy on a molecule translocating through a solid-state nanopore is described. Optical spectroscopic signals are enhanced by plasmonic field-confinement and antenna effects and probed in transmission by plasmon-enabled transmission of light through an optical channel that overlaps with the physical channel.

Abstract: A method and device for the sorting and focusing of suspended particles is disclosed. The device has a micro-fluidic channel, at least one inlet and a number of outlets for providing, sorting and receiving particles. A patterned array of grooves is present inside the micro-fluidic channel. The inlets and outlets are connected to the micro-fluidic channel. The particles are sorted by the array of grooves. The method consists of providing particles in a flow-focused manner to one end of the micro-fluidic channel using at least one inlet. The particles are sorted by the array of grooves present in the micro-fluidic channel. Particles are collected by a number of outlets which are connected to the other end of the micro-fluidic channel.

Abstract: A method for forming a nanostructure penetrating a layer and the device made thereof is disclosed. In one aspect, the device has a substrate, a layer present thereon, and a nanostructure penetrating the layer. The nanostructure defines a nanoscale passageway through which a molecule to be analyzed can pass through. The nanostructure has, in cross-sectional view, a substantially triangular shape. This shape is particularly achieved by growth of an epitaxial layer having crystal facets defining tilted sidewalls of the nanostructure. It is highly suitably for use for optical characterization of molecular structure, particularly with surface plasmon enhanced transmission spectroscopy.

Abstract: A method according to embodiments of the present invention comprises providing a magnetic stack comprising a magnetic layer sub-stack comprising magnetic layers and a bottom conductive electrode and a top conductive electrode electrically connecting the magnetic layer sub-stack at opposite sides thereof; providing a sacrificial pillar on top of the magnetic stack, the sacrificial pillar having an undercut with respect to an overlying second sacrificial material and a sloped foot with increasing cross-sectional dimension towards the magnetic stack, using the sacrificial pillar for patterning the magnetic stack, depositing an insulating layer around the sacrificial pillar, selectively removing the sacrificial pillar, thus creating a contact hole towards the patterned magnetic stack, and filling the contact hole with electrically conductive material.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a device for analyzing target molecules. The device comprises a substrate retention device for holding a substrate having a functionalized surface provided thereon. This functionalized surface is adapted for capturing a plurality of target molecules. The device also comprises a light source for illuminating the functionalized surface and an image sensor for recording interference patterns of magnetic particles present on the functionalized surface. The device further comprises a first magnetic field generator configured to generate a magnetic field to attract magnetic particles linked to the target molecules to the functionalized surface. The disclosure further relates to a method for analyzing target molecules.

Abstract: A method for forming a nanostructure penetrating a layer and the device made thereof is disclosed. In one aspect, the device has a substrate, a layer present thereon, and a nanostructure penetrating the layer. The nanostructure defines a nanoscale passageway through which a molecule to be analyzed can pass through. The nanostructure has, in cross-sectional view, a substantially triangular shape. This shape is particularly achieved by growth of an epitaxial layer having crystal facets defining tilted sidewalls of the nanostructure. It is highly suitably for use for optical characterization of molecular structure, particularly with surface plasmon enhanced transmission spectroscopy.

Abstract: A device for manipulating magnetic or magnetizable objects in a medium is provided. The device has a surface lying in a plane and comprises a set of at least two conductors electrically isolated from each other, wherein the at least two conductors are adapted for both generating a magnetophoresis force for moving the magnetic or magnetizable objects over the surface of the device in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the surface, and generating a dielectrophoresis force for moving the magnetic or magnetizable objects in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the surface. Also provided is a method for manipulating magnetic or magnetizable objects in a medium. The method uses a combined magnetophoresis and dielectrophoresis actuation principle for controlling in-plane as well as out-of-plane movement of the magnetic or magnetizable objects.