Abstract: Described herein are thermo-responsive microbead compositions, methods of making such microbead compositions, and method employing the microbeads to evaluate cellular responses elicited by mechanical force.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods, devices, systems and kits for producing polymeric microbeads, including lanthanide-encoded microbeads. Among others, the present disclosure provides methods, systems and kits for producing functionalized microbeads that include on their surfaces amphipathic moieties with free reactive groups that remain free and can be used for covalently coupling molecules or moieties of inters to the microbeads.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods for associating data from phenotypic analysis of a single cell with sequencing data from the single cell using spectrally-encoded microbeads.

Abstract: Methods for characterizing a population of microbes in a sample are described. The methods include: amplifying microbial polynucleotides obtained from the sample to form a plurality of amplicons and combining the amplicons with a plurality of microbeads, wherein each of the microbeads has a lanthanide spectral signature paired with the sequence of capture polynucleotides immobilized on the microbead. At least some of the capture polynucleotides comprise a sequence substantially complementary to a microbe-identifying sequence in one or more amplicons, such that at least some amplicons are captured onto beads by the capture polynucleotides and the microbe can be identified based on the lanthanide spectral signature of with which the capture polynucleotide is paired. Further described are methods for the identification of pathogens present in a sample by evaluating patterns of hybridization of a capture oligonucleotide to amplicons.

Abstract: Spectrally encoded microbeads and methods and devices for making and using spectrally encoded microbeads are provided. The disclosed methods and devices facilitate the preparation and use of microbeads containing multiple lanthanide nanoparticles, which microbeads have uniquely identifiable spectral codes. The disclosed microbeads, and the methods and devices for making and using same, find use in multiplexing and high-throughput biomarker analysis.

Abstract: Spectrally encoded microbeads and methods and devices for making and using spectrally encoded microbeads are provided. The disclosed methods and devices facilitate the preparation and use of microbeads containing multiple lanthanide nanoparticles, which microbeads have uniquely identifiable spectral codes. The disclosed microbeads, and the methods and devices for making and using same, find use in multiplexing and high-throughput biomarker analysis.