Abstract: Systems and methods for flowing particles, such as biological entities, in a fluidic channel(s) are generally provided. In some cases, the systems described herein are designed such that a single particle may be isolated from a plurality of particles and flowed into a fluidic channel (e.g., a microfluidic channel) and/or collected e.g., on fluidically isolated surfaces. For example, the single particle may be present in a plurality of particles of relatively high density and the single particle is flowed into a fluidic channel, such that it is separated from the plurality of particles. The particles may be spaced within a fluidic channel so that individual particles may be measured/observed over time. In certain embodiments, the particle may be a biological entity. Such article and methods may be useful, for example, for isolating single cells into individual wells of multi-well cell culture dishes (e.g., for single-cell analysis).

Abstract: Aspects of the application relate to methods and systems for evaluating treatment response by measuring treatment-induced changes at the single cell level. The disclosure provides methods for isolating single cells that are primary cancer cells, including primary cancer cells from solid tumors, and detecting in minutes to hours from their removal from the body the response of such cells to anti-cancer agents such as radiation, small molecules, biologies, DNA damaging agents and the like.

Abstract: Systems and methods for flowing particles, such as biological entities, in a fluidic channel(s) are generally provided. In some cases, the systems described herein are designed such that a single particle may be isolated from a plurality of particles and flowed into a fluidic channel (e.g., a microfluidic channel) and/or collected e.g., on fluidically isolated surfaces. For example, the single particle may be present in a plurality of particles of relatively high density and the single particle is flowed into a fluidic channel, such that it is separated from the plurality of particles. The particles may be spaced within a fluidic channel so that individual particles may be measured/observed over time. In certain embodiments, the particle may be a biological entity. Such article and methods may be useful, for example, for isolating single cells into individual wells of multi-well cell culture dishes (e.g., for single-cell analysis).

Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring the properties (e.g., masses, weights, densities, etc.) of particles, such as biological entities, in a fluidic channel are generally provided. In some embodiments, the systems and methods comprise a plurality of suspended microchannel resonators (SMRs) configured to operate simultaneously. A particle or a plurality of particles may be dissolved or suspended in a fluid, whereby the fluid is flowed through an inlet (e.g., an inlet channel) that is fluidically connected in parallel and in fluid communication with at least one SMR (e.g. at least one SMR, at least two SMRs, at least four SMRs, at least 8, at least 16 SMRs). Fluid containing a particle or particles may flow into the plurality of SMRs, which may oscillate at a certain frequency (e.g., a resonance frequency). As particles pass through the SMR(s), the mass of particle may cause a change in the resonance frequency, the change in frequency which may be read out via embedded piezoresistors.

Abstract: A method of rapid functional analysis of cells is provided. A body fluid sample is introduced into a reservoir of a measurement instrument. A living cell is loaded directly from the body fluid sample into a channel of the measurement instrument in the absence of long-term cell culturing, cell passaging, and application of long-term drug pressure to cells. A functional biomarker of the living cells is measured while the living cell flows through the channel. The functional biomarker measured may be mass accumulation rate (MAR) or mass change. The measurement instrument may be a suspended microchannel resonator (SMR).

Abstract: The invention provides devices and methods for measuring how living cells function. The measurements can be made from tissue biopsy samples to measure functional properties of living cells from a solid tumor. After measuring a functional property of a cell, the cell remains alive and is available for other subsequent analyses. In certain aspects, the invention provides a method for measuring a cancer marker. The method includes obtaining a tissue sample comprising living cells, disaggregating the tissue sample and loading individual live cells into an input channel of a measurement instrument, and flowing the live cells through the measurement instrument to measure a functional property of the live cells.

Abstract: Systems and methods for flowing particles, such as biological entities, in a fluidic channel(s) are generally provided. In some cases, the systems described herein are designed such that a single particle may be isolated from a plurality of particles and flowed into a fluidic channel (e.g., a microfluidic channel) and/or collected e.g., on fluidically isolated surfaces. For example, the single particle may be present in a plurality of particles of relatively high density and the single particle is flowed into a fluidic channel, such that it is separated from the plurality of particles. The particles may be spaced within a fluidic channel so that individual particles may be measured/observed over time. In certain embodiments, the particle may be a biological entity. Such article and methods may be useful, for example, for isolating single cells into individual wells of multi-well cell culture dishes (e.g., for single-cell analysis).