Abstract: A system and method for sorting sperm is provided. The system includes a housing and a microfluidic system supported by the housing. The system also includes an inlet providing access to the microfluidic system to deliver sperm to the microfluidic system and an outlet providing access to the microfluidic system to harvest sorted sperm from the microfluidic system. The microfluidic system provides a flow path for sperm from the inlet to the outlet and includes at least one channel extending from the inlet to the outlet to allow sperm delivered to the microfluidic system through the inlet to progress along the flow path toward the outlet. The microfluidic system also includes a filter including a first plurality of micropores arranged in the flow path between the inlet and the outlet to cause sperm traveling along the flow path to move against through the filter and gravity to reach the outlet.

Abstract: A device (“the ExoTIC device”) for the isolation of extracellular vesicles from an extracellular vesicle-containing sample in which the sample is flowed through a membrane in a flow chamber to capture and purify the extracellular vesicles on the membrane. The extracellular vesicles may be washed and collected and utilized in any one of a number of ways including, but not limited to, identifying biomarkers of a disease, identifying the presence of a biomarker in a patient to determine whether a patient has a disease, and therapeutically treating existing diseases by re-introducing the extracellular vesicles, potentially modified, back into a body.

Abstract: A system and method for sorting sperm is provided. The system includes a housing and a microfluidic system supported by the housing. The system also includes an inlet providing access to the microfluidic system to deliver sperm to the microfluidic system and an outlet providing access to the microfluidic system to harvest sorted sperm from the microfluidic system. The microfluidic system provides a flow path for sperm from the inlet to the outlet and includes at least one channel extending from the inlet to the outlet to allow sperm delivered to the microfluidic system through the inlet to progress along the flow path toward the outlet. The microfluidic system also includes a filter including a first plurality of micropores arranged in the flow path between the inlet and the outlet to cause sperm traveling along the flow path to move against through the filter and gravity to reach the outlet.

Abstract: Magnetic cell levitation and cell monitoring systems and methods are disclosed. A method for separating a heterogeneous population of cells is performed by placing a microcapillary channel containing the heterogeneous population of cells in a magnetically-responsive medium in the disclosed levitation system and separating the cells by balancing magnetic and corrected gravitational forces on the individual cells. A levitation system is also disclosed, having a microscope on which the microcapillary channel is placed and a set of two magnets between which the microcapillary channel is placed. Additionally, a method for monitoring cellular processes in real-time using the levitation system is disclosed.

Abstract: Method and system for lensless, shadow optical imaging. Formation of a hologram shadow image having higher spatial resolution and lower noise level is accomplished by processing image information contained in multiple individual hologram shadow image frames acquired either under conditions of relative shift between point light source and the detector of the system or under stationary conditions, when system remains fixed in space and is devoid of any relative movement during the process of acquisition of individual image frames.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a magnetic bead platform for isolating sperm cells from biological samples. In some embodiments, such magnetic bead platforms integrate recognition reagents to its surface to bind target cells, such as sperm cells. Such embodiments provide the ability to at least one of rapidly isolate and quantitate sperm cells from biological samples as occur in sexual assault evidence, for example, thereby enhancing identification of suspects in these cases and contributing to the safety of society.

Abstract: A system and method for sorting sperm is provided. The system includes a housing and a microfluidic system supported by the housing. The system also includes an inlet providing access to the microfluidic system to deliver sperm to the microfluidic system and an outlet providing access to the microfluidic system to harvest sorted sperm from the microfluidic system. The microfluidic system provides a flow path for sperm from the inlet to the outlet and includes at least one channel extending from the inlet to the outlet to allow sperm delivered to the microfluidic system through the inlet to progress along the flow path toward the outlet. The microfluidic system also includes a filter including a first plurality of micropores arranged in the flow path between the inlet and the outlet to cause sperm traveling along the flow path to move against through the filter and gravity to reach the outlet.

Abstract: The technology described herein is directed to methods of cryopreservation, e.g., cryopreservation in a microfluidics format and methods of utilizing cells preserved by such methods.

Abstract: Method and system for lensless, shadow optical imaging. Formation of a hologram shadow image having higher spatial resolution and lower noise level is accomplished by processing image information contained in multiple individual hologram shadow image frames acquired either under conditions of relative shift between point light source and the detector of the system or under stationary conditions, when system remains fixed in space and is devoid of any relative movement during the process of acquisition of individual image frames.

Abstract: A method of making a multi-layer patterned cell assembly is provided. A cell suspension liquid solution containing cells is loaded into a liquid-carrier chamber. The cells in the cell suspension liquid solution are let to settle down to the bottom of the chamber. Once the cells in the cell suspension liquid solution have gravitationally settled down to the bottom of the chamber, a hydrodynamic drag force is applied by using a vibration generator with a frequency and acceleration to the cells at the bottom of the chamber. The frequency and acceleration are designed to drag the settled cells into a three-dimensional pattern to form a multi-layer three-dimensional patterned cell assembly. The formed multi-layer three- dimensional patterned cell assembly can be transferred from the liquid-carrier chamber to an incubator to form a tissue culture. The bioengineered construct can be implanted for tissue engineering or other medical applications.

Abstract: A method for sorting motile cells includes introducing an initial population of motile cells into an inlet port of a microfluidic channel, the initial population of motile cells having a first average motility; incubating the population of motile cells in the microfluidic channel; and collecting a sorted population of motile cells at an outlet port of the microfluidic channel. The sorted population of motile cells has a second average motility higher than the first average motility.

Abstract: Method and system for lensless, shadow optical imaging. Formation of a hologram shadow image having higher spatial resolution and lower noise level is accomplished by processing image information contained in multiple individual hologram shadow image frames acquired either under conditions of relative shift between point light source and the detector of the system or under stationary conditions, when system remains fixed in space and is devoid of any relative movement during the process of acquisition of individual image frames.

Abstract: A diagnostic method for a detection of a nuclear deformation based a cellular differentiation includes the following steps: preparing nano/micropatterned surfaces; performing a cell seeding on the nano/micropatterned surfaces; imaging; analyzing nuclear deformations of a single cell and a cell population with an algorithm method.

Abstract: A system and method for sorting sperm is provided. The system includes a housing and a microfluidic system supported by the housing. The system also includes an inlet providing access to the microfluidic system to deliver sperm to the microfluidic system and an outlet providing access to the microfluidic system to harvest sorted sperm from the microfluidic system. The microfluidic system provides a flow path for sperm from the inlet to the outlet and includes at least one channel extending from the inlet to the outlet to allow sperm delivered to the microfluidic system through the inlet to progress along the flow path toward the outlet. The microfluidic system also includes a filter including a first plurality of micropores arranged in the flow path between the inlet and the outlet to cause sperm traveling along the flow path to move against through the filter and gravity to reach the outlet.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are imaging-based devices and systems for measuring sperm motility in samples of human or animal origin. The disclosed devices and systems have particular applicability in the fields of agricultural and clinical diagnostics, as well as in vitro fertilization.

Abstract: A nanoplasmonic platform can be used for the detection and quantification of multiple HIV subtypes in whole blood with localized surface plasmon resonance. Among other things, this nanoplasmonic platform provides a viable way to detection and quantification of viral load at a point of care with significantly less cost, time, and laboratory resources than existing methods of detection. Although an example of HIV detection in whole blood is provided, the nanoplasmonic platform is adaptable to detect other pathogens and infectious agents or macromolecules.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a method for self-assembly of magnetic building blocks, including distributing a plurality of building blocks in a liquid medium, each of the plurality of building blocks having a plurality of stable radicals, establishing a magnetic field interacting with at least a portion of the plurality of building blocks, guiding with the magnetic field the portion of the plurality of building blocks from a first location in the liquid medium to a second location in the liquid medium, assembling into a first construct the portion of the plurality of building blocks proximate the second location, and treating the first construct with at least one antioxidant to neutralize at least in part the plurality of stable radicals.

Abstract: A device (“the ExoTIC device”) for the isolation of extracellular vesicles from an extracellular vesicle-containing sample in which the sample is flowed through a membrane in a flow chamber to capture and purify the extracellular vesicles on the membrane. The extracellular vesicles may be washed and collected and utilized in any one of a number of ways including, but not limited to, identifying biomarkers of a disease, identifying the presence of a biomarker in a patient to determine whether a patient has a disease, and therapeutically treating existing diseases by re-introducing the extracellular vesicles, potentially modified, back into a body.

Abstract: A microfluidic chip is provided for self-sorting highly motile, morphologically normal sperm cell with high DNA integrity from a fresh semen sample. The sperm self-sorting microfluidic chip has one or more inlet chambers, and sperm collection outlet chamber(s), and the middle of the channel features various micro-fabricated structures in different geometrical shapes and orientations, with varying periodicities and patterns, such as an array of micro-fabricated pillars that facilitate the transport of the active and healthy sperm into the outlet chamber.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are imaging-based devices and systems for measuring sperm motility in samples of human or animal origin. The disclosed devices and systems have particular applicability in the fields of agricultural and clinical diagnostics, as well as in vitro fertilization.