Harvard College

Andres W Martinez

George M Whitesides

Scott T Phillips

Katherine Andrea Mirica

Emanuel Carrilho

Adam Carlyn Siegel

Manish J Butte

Samuel W Thomas

Hayat Sindi

Sarah J Vella

Yanyan Liu

Amy Wong

Sergey S Shevkoplyas

Benjamin Wiley

Xin Chen

Douglas Benjamin Weibel

Xiujun Li

Xinyu Liu

Adam Winkleman

Zhihong Nie

Max Narovlyansky

Raquel Perez-Castillejos

Malancha Gupta

Michael D Dickey

Phillip W Snyder

Mila Boncheva-Bettex

Derek A Bruzewicz

Monica Mascareñas

Chao-Min Cheng

Dorota Rozkiewicz

Christian Nijhuis

Katherine L Gudiksen

Sarah Jane Vella

Embodiments of the invention provide lateral flow and flow-through bioassay devices based on patterned porous media, methods of making same, and methods of using same. Under one aspect, an assay device includes a porous, hydrophilic medium; a fluid impervious barrier comprising polymerized photoresist, the barrier substantially permeating the thickness of the porous, hydrophilic medium and defining a boundary of an assay region within the porous, hydrophilic medium; and an assay reagent in the assay region.

Lateral flow and flow-through bioassay devices based on patterned porous media, methods of making same, and methods of using same

The ability to levitate, to separate, and to detect changes in density using diamagnetic particles suspended in solutions containing paramagnetic cations using an inhomogeneous magnetic field is described. The major advantages of this separation device are that: i) it is a simple apparatus that does not require electric power (a set of permanent magnets and gravity are sufficient for the diamagnetic separation and collection system to work); ii) it is compatible with simple optical detection (provided that transparent materials are used to fabricate the containers/channels where separation occurs; iii) it is simple to collect the separated particles for further processing; iv) it does not require magnetic labeling of the particles/materials; and v) it is small, portable. The method and kits provided provide for separation and collection of materials of different densities, diagnostics for detection of analytes of interest, monitoring of solid-supported chemical reactions and determination of densities of solid and liquid mixtures.

Density-based methods for separation of materials, monitoring of solid supported reactions and measuring densities of small liquid volumes and solids

Microfluidic, electrochemical devices are described. The microfluidic, electrochemical device comprises one or more electrode(s) on a substrate and a patterned porous, hydrophilic layer having a fluid-impermeable barrier which substantially permeates the thickness of the porous, hydrophilic layer and defines boundaries of one or more hydrophilic channels within the patterned porous, hydrophilic layer, wherein the hydrophilic channel(s) comprises a hydrophilic region which is in fluidic communication with the electrode(s). In some embodiments, the electrodes comprise a working electrode, a counter electrode, and a reference electrode. In some embodiments, the microfluidic, electrochemical device further comprises a fluid sink. The method of assembling the microfluidic, electrochemical device is described. The method of using the device for electrochemical analysis of one or more analytes is also described.

Microfluidic, electrochemical devices

Paper-based microfluidic systems and methods of making the same are described.

Paper-based microfluidic systems

The disclosure provides low cost, portable three-dimensional devices for performing multiplexed assays. The devices comprise at least two substantially planar layers disposed in parallel planes, wherein one of the layers is movable relative to each other parallel to the planes to permit the establishment of fluid flow communication serially between the two layers.

Devices and methods for multiplexed assays

Three-dimensional microfluidic devices including by a plurality of patterned porous, hydrophilic layers and a fluid-impermeable layer disposed between every two adjacent patterned porous, hydrophilic layers are described. Each patterned porous, hydrophilic layer has a fluid-impermeable barrier which substantially permeates the thickness of the porous, hydrophilic layer and defines boundaries of one or more hydrophilic regions within the patterned porous, hydrophilic layer. The fluid-impermeable layer has openings which are aligned with at least part of the hydrophilic region within at least one adjacent patterned porous, hydrophilic layer. Microfluidic assay device, microfluidic mixer, microfluidic flow control device are also described.

Three-dimensional microfluidic devices

Disclosed herein are a variety of microfluidic devices and solid, typically electrically conductive devices that can be formed using such devices as molds. In certain embodiments, the devices that are formed comprise conductive pathways formed by solidifying a liquid metal present in one or more microfluidic channels (such devices hereinafter referred to as 'microsolidic' devices). In certain such devices, in which electrical connections can be formed and/or reformed between regions in a microfluidic structure; in some cases, the devices/circuits formed may be flexible and/or involve flexible electrical components. In certain embodiments, the solid metal wires/conductive pathways formed in microfluidic channel(s) may remain contained within the microfluidic structure. In certain such embodiments, the conductive pathways formed may be located in proximity to other microfluidic channel(s) of the structure that carry flowing fluid, such that the conductive pathway can create energy (e.g. electromagnetic and/or thermal energy) that interacts withy and/or affects the flowing fluid and/or a component contained therein or carried thereby. In other embodiments, a microsolidic structure may be removed from a microfluidic mold to form a stand-alone structure. In certain embodiments, the solid metal structures formed may interact with light energy incident upon a structure or may be used to fabricate a light-weight electrode. Another aspect of the invention relates to the formation of self-assembled structures that may comprise these electrically conductive pathways/connections.

Fabrication of conductive pathways, microcircuits and microstructures in microfluidic networks

Growing community of inventors

Cambridge, MA, United States of America

Andres W Martinez