Abstract: Methods and systems forming biocompatible materials are disclosed herein. Forming a biocompatible material may include contacting a liquid, having a linking material, with an adjoining material having embedded therein a nucleating material that causes the linking material to nucleate and grow into the liquid. After a time sufficient to cause the linking material to grow substantially from the nucleating material into a space occupied by the liquid, the liquid may be solidified to form a solid such that the linking material secures the solid to the adjoining material.

Abstract: A series of methods, compositions, and articles for patterning a surface with multiple, aligned layers of molecules, by exposing the molecules to electromagnetic radiation is provided. In certain embodiments, a single photomask acts as an area-selective filter for light at multiple wavelengths. A single set of exposures of multiple wavelengths through this photomask may make it possible to fabricate a pattern comprising discontinuous multiple regions, where the regions differ from each other in at least one chemical and/or physical property, without acts of alignment between the exposures. In certain embodiments, the surface includes molecules attached thereto that can be photocleaved upon exposure to a certain wavelength of radiation, thereby altering the chemical composition on at least a portion of the surface.

Abstract: An assay method is described, which comprises the steps of immobilizing a binding partner (e.g., an antigen or antibody) for an analyte to be detected (e.g., an antibody or antigen) on a portion (140) of a surface (130) of a microfluidic chamber (120,122,124); passing a fluid sample over the surface and allowing the analyte to bind to the binding partner; allowing a metal colloid, e.g., a gold-conjugated antibody, to associate with the bound analyte; flowing a metal solution, e.g., a silver solution, over the surface such as to form an opaque metallic layer; and detecting the presence of said metallic layer, e.g., by visual inspection or by measuring light transmission through the layer, conductivity or resistance of the layer, or metal concentration in the metal solution after flowing the metal solution over the surface.

Abstract: Fluidic connectors, methods, and devices for performing analyses (e.g., immunoassays) in microfluidic systems are provided. In some embodiments, a fluidic connector having a fluid path is used to connect two independent channels formed in a substrate so as to allow fluid communication between the two independent channels. One or both of the independent channels may be pre-filled with reagents (e.g., antibody solutions, washing buffers and amplification reagents), which can be used to perform the analysis. These reagents may be stored in the channels of the substrate for long periods amounts of time (e.g., 1 year) prior to use. Prior to connection of the fluid connector and the substrate, the fluid path may be filled with a sample (e.g., blood). The sample may be obtained, for example, by pricking a finger of a user until blood is drawn from the finger into the fluid path (e.g., by capillary forces).

Abstract: Stable, helical, biologically active peptides, particularly stable, helical, biologically active C-peptides, which comprise all or a portion of an unstructured peptide (a peptide which is unstructured in solution) linked to a scaffold (or support) polypeptide. Such peptides are referred to herein as structured C-peptides. In particular embodiments, structured C-peptides of the present invention comprise all or a portion of a binding epitope of a C-peptide, such as all or a portion of a binding epitope of a peptide derived from the carboxy-terminal region of the HIV-1 gp41 envelope glycoprotein. The C-peptide can be, for example, C34 peptide of HIV-1 gp41.