Abstract: An apparatus for performing cerebral micro-dialysis to treat neurological disease of a patient's brain includes a catheter for implantation in or near the patient's brain, an implantable pump communicated with the catheter to transport cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the patient, which CSF contains diseased cells or biomolecules associated with the neurological disease, and an implantable separation device communicated with the pump wherein the diseased cells or biomolecules are removed, where the separation apparatus includes a dialysis membrane impregnated with an antibody, a reversible electrostatic filter, and/or a magnetic field effect fractionation chamber wherein a magnetically-tagged antibody scavenges and aids in the removal of circulating diseased cells or biomolecules from the CSF.

Abstract: The invention includes a method of assaying an analyte in a sample in a portable, handheld microfluidic reader. The method includes the steps of: inserting the sample in the reader; capturing the analyte with a first antibody having a DNA tag attached thereto; capturing the analyte in the sample with a second antibody attached to a surface or having a magnetic nanoparticle (MNP) attached thereto; where a sandwich including the magnetic nanoparticle, first and second antibodies, the analyte and the DNA tag is formed; replicating the DNA tag using isothermal amplification to a predetermined amount of DNA tags detectable by a detector sufficient to overcome the minimal mass sensitivity limitations of the detector; and measuring the amount of replicated DNA tags using the detector. The invention also includes an apparatus or handheld portable field microfluidic reader in which the method is performed.

Abstract: An automated system communicated to a remote server for diagnostically field testing a sample taken from a patient using an automated portable handheld instrument to determine the presence of Covid-19 and/or antibodies thereto includes microfluidic circuits defined in a rotatable disk for performing a bioassay using a microarray to generate an electrical signal indicative of a bioassay measurement; the microarray operationally positioned in the microfluidic circuit; one or more lasers; one or more positionable valves in the microfluidic circuit; and a backbone unit for rotating the disk according to a protocol to perform the bioassay, for controlling the lasers to selectively open the positionable valves in the microfluidic disk, for operating the microarray to generate a digital image as a bioassay measurement; for communicating the bioassay measurement to the remote server, and for associating the performed bioassay and its corresponding bioassay measurement to the patient.

Abstract: A surface acoustic wave (SAW) performs a rapid, label-free detection of biological species. Biosensing and detection of multiple analytes multiplexed by an array of sensing lanes is configured to enable bio-amplification using engineered DNA encoded libraries as the probe through a phage display procedure to enhance specificity, capture statistics for the detection, screening and analyzing of the analyte in vitro. A biochemical formulation minimizes the limit of detection (LOD) at a threshold magnitude on the order of a femtomolar concentration. Additional enhancement of the apparatus is achieved by use of an analog front end to amplify biochemical events.

Abstract: The invention includes a method of assaying an analyte in a sample in a portable, handheld microfluidic reader. The method includes the steps of: inserting the sample in the reader; capturing the analyte with a first antibody having a DNA tag attached thereto; capturing the analyte in the sample with a second antibody attached to a surface or having a magnetic nanoparticle (MNP) attached thereto; where a sandwich including the magnetic nanoparticle, first and second antibodies, the analyte and the DNA tag is formed; replicating the DNA tag using isothermal amplification to a predetermined amount of DNA tags detectable by a detector sufficient to overcome the minimal mass sensitivity limitations of the detector; and measuring the amount of replicated DNA tags using the detector. The invention also includes an apparatus or handheld portable field microfluidic reader in which the method is performed.

Abstract: A system and method for performing a portable, fast, field assay of a small sample biological analyte includes a microfluidic cartridge and a reader with which the microfluidic cartridge is selectively communicated. A closed microfluidic circuit mixes and recirculates the analyte with a buffer. A shear horizontal surface acoustic wave (SAW) detector communicates with the microfluidic circuit and has a plurality of channels including at least one functionalized sensing channel in which the mixed analyte and buffer is recirculated and sensed. Capture of the analyte is amplified by recirculation of the analyte and buffer, and detection is amplified by use of an all-purpose endospore display mass amplification.

Abstract: A system and method for performing a portable, fast, field assay of a small sample biological analyte includes a microfluidic cartridge and a reader with which the microfluidic cartridge is selectively communicated. A closed microfluidic circuit mixes and recirculates the analyte with a buffer. A shear horizontal surface acoustic wave (SAW) detector communicates with the microfluidic circuit and has a plurality of channels including at least one functionalized sensing channel in which the mixed analyte and buffer is recirculated and sensed. Capture of the analyte is amplified by recirculation of the analyte and buffer, and detection is amplified by use of an all-purpose endospore display mass amplification.

Abstract: A surface acoustic wave (SAW) performs a rapid, label-free detection of biological species. Biosensing and detection of multiple analytes multiplexed by an array of sensing lanes is configured to enable bio-amplification using engineered DNA encoded libraries as the probe through a phage display procedure to enhance specificity, capture statistics for the detection, screening and analyzing of the analyte in vitro. A biochemical formulation minimizes the limit of detection (LOD) at a threshold magnitude on the order of a femtomolar concentration. Additional enhancement of the apparatus is achieved by use of an analog front end to amplify biochemical events.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing cerebral micro-dialysis to treat neurological disease of a patient's brain includes a catheter for implantation in or near the patient's brain, an implantable pump communicated with the catheter to transport cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the patient, which CSF contains diseased cells or biomolecules associated with the neurological disease, and an implantable separation device communicated with the pump wherein the diseased cells or biomolecules are removed, where the separation apparatus includes a dialysis membrane impregnated with an antibody, a reversible electrostatic filter, and/or a magnetic field effect fractionation chamber wherein a magnetically-tagged antibody scavenges and aids in the removal of circulating diseased cells or biomolecules from the CSF.

Abstract: A method of reducing the limit of detection in a surface acoustic wave sensor (SAW) includes the steps of: attaching a plurality of DNA segments to a detection surface of a SAW; performing a CRISPR/Cas9 preparation of the DNA segments to cut and splice a selected protein into at least one of a plurality of the DNA segments; conjugating a nanoparticle to the selected protein; and measuring the number of DNA segments with conjugated nanoparticles using a surface acoustic wave sensor (SAW). The nanoparticle may be modified to form a single electron transistor (SET) which generates a detectable signal in response to RF or ultrasonic excitation which is indicative of binding of the corresponding nanoparticle to a selected target analyte.

Abstract: Improved methods for preparing thiolate passivated gold nanoparticles are provided resulting in a narrower size distribution. By alternating oxidation and reduction of the particles, after oxidation, the thiolates may be readily displaced with a different thiol, followed by reduction to prevent further reaction. Proteins can be rigidly bound to the gold nanoparticles by binding an scFv for a target protein to the gold nanoparticles, where the scFv prior or subsequent to binding to the gold nanoparticles may be complexed with the target protein. The protein is rigidly held and its structure readily determined using electron microscopy.