Abstract: An immobilized enzymatic reactor can include a wall defining a chamber having an inlet and an outlet; a solid stationary phase covalently linked to an enzyme and disposed within the chamber; and a pressure modulator in fluid communication with the chamber and adapted to support continuous flow of a liquid sample comprising a polymer analyte through the inlet, over the solid stationary phase, and out of the outlet under a pressure between about 2,500 and 35,000 psi. In one example, the solid stationary phase includes inorganic/organic hybrid particles in an ultra performance liquid chromatography system, the enzyme is a protease, and the polymer analyte is a polypeptide. The immobilized enzymatic reactor can prepare an analyte for applications such as for hydrogen deuterium exchange mass spectrometry.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a porous monolith polymeric composition having utility in catalysis, chromatography, filtration, and electro-kinetic pumps, devices incorporating such composition and methods of making and using such monoliths. In some embodiments the monoliths can include a skeletal core having a substantially homogeneous polymeric composition of two or more organic silane monomers and pores that define an interstitial volume in the skeletal core. The pores can include macropores and less than 5% of the interstitial volume can be mesopores. Such monoliths can, in some embodiments, be disposed in a housing having at least one wall that defines a chamber such that all fluid flowing into the chamber passes through the pores of the monolith.

Abstract: Described are sample carriers and methods of extracting a fluid sample from a dried sample on a sample carrier. The sample carrier has a first carrier portion that receives a fluid sample, and includes a material that adsorbs the fluid sample and dissolves upon application of a solvent. A second carrier portion is attached to the first carrier portion and includes a material that is indissolvable in the solvent. The first carrier portion having a dried sample is dissolved into a solution upon application of the solvent. The solution can be analyzed to determine constituents in the extracted sample. The sample carrier can conveniently be in the form of a card or a dipstick. In alternative embodiments, a carrier portion that includes the dried sample is indissolvable in the solvent but is released from another carrier portion through application of a solvent to an intervening dissolvable carrier portion.

Abstract: Described is a device for solid phase extraction of a dried sample of a biological fluid. The device includes a support structure such as a plate or support block that has a first side to receive a dried sample card. The support structure also has a second side that is opposite the first side and a number of apertures that extend between the first and second sides. The device also includes a plurality of wells each containing a sample preparation material and having an inlet end that communicates with a respective aperture at the second side of the support structure. Each dried sample on the dried sample card is aligned with one of the apertures. Extraction samples in each well pass through the sample preparation material, such as a chromatographic sorbent, in the well to remove one or more constituents of the extraction sample.

Abstract: Described is a pipet, or micropipet, that can be used to dispense multiple aliquots of a biological fluid sample. The pipet includes a capillary tube, a plunger and a plunger stop mechanism having multiple stop positions that allow the plunger to move through the capillary tube in equal incremental steps. The plunger stop mechanism enables the pipet to dispense equal volume portions of fluid in the capillary tube. Advantageously, the pipet can be fabricated at low cost and may be provided as a single-use disposable device. The micropipet may be provided to users with a sample collection device such as a dried blood spot card having multiple collection regions. The pipet optionally includes a dispensing stage that maintains a predetermined separation between the tip of the pipet and a surface of a sample collection medium to limit wicking of the fluid when an aliquot is dispensed.

Abstract: A method and a system for generating an extraction sample from a dried sample spot. The method includes acquiring a spectroscopic image of an analyte in the spot. The spectroscopic image includes information on a spatial distribution of the analyte. A region of the spot to be extracted is determined from the spectroscopic image and an extraction sample is generated from the determined region. In other embodiments, the method and system are based on acquiring a spectroscopic measurement of an analyte in the dried sample spot, determining a quantity of the analyte in the spot based on the spectroscopic measurement and determining a volume of an extraction solvent for creating an extraction sample from the spot. The determined volume is based on the determined quantity of the analyte and a detection characteristic of an analytical measurement system. In other embodiments, the method is applied to solid samples.

Abstract: Provided are devices and methods for sample collection and processing. A tubular body has a chamber closed at a first end by a thin penetrable barrier and open at a second end opposite the first end. The tubular body further includes a partition that divides the chamber into two adjacent compartments, wherein a first compartment of the two adjacent compartments has the partition facing opposite the open end of the chamber and a second compartment of the two adjacent compartments has the partition facing opposite the closed end of the chamber. The partition has one or more holes to allow passage of fluid from the first compartment into the second compartment. A tracking identification may be permanently affixed to the first end of the tubular body.

Abstract: Described is a matrix spot processing device comprising a tubular apparatus. An absorbent media is located either separate from, or attached to, the tubular apparatus. A sample is spotted on the absorbent media. A reservoir is in the tubular apparatus. A first region of the reservoir is constructed and arranged to have an extraction solvent. A second region of the reservoir, which may or may not be the same as the first region, is constructed and arranged to receive an extract generated from an interaction between the extraction solvent and the spotted sample at the absorbent media.

Abstract: Described is a biological sample carrier based on a rigid hydrophilic object fabricated from a non-absorbing inert porous material. A biological fluid sample applied to the surface of the object is absorbed into the pores and constituents of the biological fluid sample remain in the pores after drying. Unlike a disc punched from a conventional dried blood spot (DBS) card, the object is easily handled. In contrast to DBS cards containing glass fiber structures that interact with basic analytes and other DBS card having adsorbing fibers that tend to separate blood constituents as the sample spreads through the fibers, the biological sample carrier is substantially inert to drug analytes.

Abstract: Described are sample carriers and methods of extracting a fluid sample from a dried sample on a sample carrier. The sample carrier has a first carrier portion that receives a fluid sample, and includes a material that adsorbs the fluid sample and dissolves upon application of a solvent. A second carrier portion is attached to the first carrier portion and includes a material that is indissolvable in the solvent. The first carrier portion having a dried sample is dissolved into a solution upon application of the solvent. The solution can be analyzed to determine constituents in the extracted sample. The sample carrier can conveniently be in the form of a card or a dipstick. In alternative embodiments, a carrier portion that includes the dried sample is indissolvable in the solvent but is released from another carrier portion through application of a solvent to an intervening dissolvable carrier portion.

Abstract: Described is a device for solid phase extraction of a dried sample of a biological fluid. The device includes a support structure such as a plate or support block that has a first side to receive a dried sample card. The support structure also has a second side that is opposite the first side and a number of apertures that extend between the first and second sides. The device also includes a plurality of wells each containing a sample preparation material and having an inlet end that communicates with a respective aperture at the second side of the support structure. Each dried sample on the dried sample card is aligned with one of the apertures. Extraction samples in each well pass through the sample preparation material, such as a chromatographic sorbent, in the well to remove one or more constituents of the extraction sample.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a porous monolith polymeric composition having utility in catalysis, chromatography, filtration, and electro-kinetic pumps, devices incorporating such composition and methods or making and using such monoliths. The monoliths are characterized by a substantially homogeneous skeletal core with little shrinkage, few voids and few channels.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in a chromatography system includes a microfluidic substrate having a fluidic channel configured as an analytical chromatographic column and a fluidic port on one side of the microfluidic substrate. The fluidic port opens at a head end of the analytical chromatographic column. A dried blood spot (DBS) collection device holds one or more dried biological samples. The DBS collection device is directly coupled to the microfluidic substrate whereby one of the biological samples is placed into fluidic communication with the fluidic channel of the microfluidic substrate and an extraction of that biological sample flows toward the head end of the analytical chromatographic column. A diluent source fluidically coupled to the fluidic port supplies a solvent to the head end of the analytical column to dilute the extracted biological sample before the biological sample flows into the analytical chromatographic column.

Abstract: An immobilized enzymatic reactor can include a wall defining a chamber having an inlet and an outlet; a solid stationary phase covalently linked to an enzyme and disposed within the chamber; and a pressure modulator in fluid communication with the chamber and adapted to support continuous flow of a liquid sample comprising a polymer analyte through the inlet, over the solid stationary phase, and out of the outlet under a pressure between about 2,500 and 35,000 psi. In one example, the solid stationary phase includes inorganic/organic hybrid particles in an ultra performance liquid chromatography system, the enzyme is a protease, and the polymer analyte is a polypeptide. The immobilized enzymatic reactor can prepare an analyte for applications such as for hydrogen deuterium exchange mass spectrometry.

Abstract: High-pressure electrokinetic (“EK”) pumps comprising a hybrid monolith provide a high surface charge density and a continuous stable skeleton morphology with micrometer-sized through-pores. The hybrid monolith of the subject invention has superior mechanical strength and better stability in comparison to prior art monoliths with equivalent mechanical stability. The surface charge of the hybrid monolith can be modified and/or made stable by the use of different chemical reagents. The chemical reagents and resulting modification to the monolith serves to expand the usefulness of the hybrid monolith to a variety of pumping applications including chip-based systems and other applications where the ability to pump an acidic solution is required.

Abstract: A method and a system for generating an extraction sample from a dried sample spot. The method includes acquiring a spectroscopic image of an analyte in the spot. The spectroscopic image includes information on a spatial distribution of the analyte. A region of the spot to be extracted is determined from the spectroscopic image and an extraction sample is generated from the determined region. In other embodiments, the method and system are based on acquiring a spectroscopic measurement of an analyte in the dried sample spot, determining a quantity of the analyte in the spot based on the spectroscopic measurement and determining a volume of an extraction solvent for creating an extraction sample from the spot. The determined volume is based on the determined quantity of the analyte and a detection characteristic of an analytical measurement system. In other embodiments, the method is applied to solid samples.

Abstract: Described is a device for collecting a fluid sample, such as a biological fluid sample. The device includes a planar collection substrate having an absorbent material. The planar collection substrate includes an impermeable region and a sample collection region. The impermeable region is impermeable to the fluid sample and is embedded in the planar collection substrate in a spatial pattern. The sample collection region is in an area excluded from the spatial pattern and has a shape and a size defined by the spatial pattern. The sample collection region is configured to receive a known volume of the fluid sample. In an alternative form, the device includes a sample collection element disposed in an impermeable planar holder and, in another alternative form, the device includes an absorbent material disposed inside an impermeable tube wall.

Abstract: The present invention features devices and methods of making such devices for performing liquid chromatography having at least one wetted surface having a composition of a polysilazane.

Abstract: High-pressure electrokinetic (“EK”) pumps comprising a hybrid monolith provide a high surface charge density and a continuous stable skeleton morphology with micrometer- sized through-pores. The hybrid monolith of the subject invention has superior mechanical strength and better stability in comparison to prior art monoliths with equivalent mechanical stability. The surface charge of the hybrid monolith can be modified and/or made stable by the use of different chemical reagents. The chemical reagents and resulting modification to the monolith serves to expand the usefulness of the hybrid monolith to a variety of pumping applications including chip-based systems and other applications where the ability to pump an acidic solution is required.