Purdue Research Foundation

Cagri Abdullah Savran

Chun-Li Chang

Philip Stewart Low

Bin-Da Chan

Wanfeng Huang

Kutay Icoz

Richard Lee Gieseck, Iii

Andrew D Ellington

Babak Ziaie

David H Thompson

Zhenwen Ding

Venkata Naga Lakshmi Rekha Patchigolla

Ghanashyam S Acharya

Derek Doorneweerd

Walter A Henne

Rohil Jain

David Brownholland

Onur Gur

Khalid M Arif

Farrukh Mateen

Chung-Li Chang

A microfluidic detection system for micrometer-sized entities, such as biological cells, includes a detector component incorporating a plate with a plurality of opening, the plate separating two chambers, one in communication with a fluid source containing target cells bound to magnetic beads. The openings are sized to always permit passage of the magnetic beads therethrough into a lower one of the chambers and are further sized to always prevent passage of the target cells from the upper one of the chambers. The detector component further includes a magnet positioned to pull unbound magnetic beads through the openings and to capture target cells bound to magnetic beads on the surface of the plate. The microfluidic detection system includes a pump flowing the fluid through the detector component at high flow rates of milliliters per minute for high throughput detection of target cells.

Micro-fluidic system using micro-apertures for high throughput detection of cells

Microfluidic systems and methods are described for capturing magnetic target entities bound to one or more magnetic beads. The systems include a well array device that includes a substrate with a surface that has a plurality of wells arranged in one or more arrays on the surface. A first array of wells is arranged adjacent to a first location on the surface. A second and subsequent arrays, if present, are arranged sequentially on the surface at second and subsequent locations. When a liquid sample is added onto the substrate and caused to flow, the liquid sample will flow across the first array first and then flow across the second and subsequent arrays in sequential order. The wells in the first array each have a size that permits entry of only one target entity into the well and each well in the first array has approximately the same size.

High-throughput particle capture and analysis

A microfluidic detection system for micrometer-sized entities, such as biological cells, includes a detector component incorporating a plate with a plurality of opening, the plate separating two chambers, one in communication with a fluid source containing target entities bound to magnetic beads. The openings are sized to always permit passage of the magnetic beads therethrough into a lower one of the chambers and are further sized to always prevent passage of the target entities from the upper one of the chambers. The detector component further includes a magnet positioned to pull unbound magnetic beads through the openings and to capture target entities bound to magnetic beads on the surface of the plate. In a further feature, the microfluidic detection system is configured to pass target molecules through the plate to be bound to a functionalized surface of the lower chamber.

An intermediate composite capable of transferring a biological or chemical material to be patterned on a surface. The intermediate composite includes a hydrogel, and particles suspended in the hydrogel, generating a particle-gel composite (composite), the composite is configured to absorb a biological or chemical material (agent), and further configured to deposit the agent when the composite is positioned proximate to a surface on which the agent is to be deposited.

Composites material with suspended particles and method of using the same

A device for weighing micro- and nano-sized particles. The device includes a base portion, an oscillator coupled to the base portion configured to vibrate the base portion, a first cantilevered beam coupled to the base portion at a proximal end and having a tip portion at a distal end, and a second cantilevered beam coupled to the base portion at a proximal end and having a tip portion at a distal end, each of the first and second cantilever beams further having a first plurality of fingers near the first tip portion inwardly pointing and a second plurality of fingers near the second tip portion inwardly pointing, respectively, such that the entirety of each cantilever beam is positioned in a side-by-side manner next to the entirety of the other forming substantially mirror images of one another, the first plurality of fingers interdigitating with the second plurality of fingers such that the first cantilevered beam and the second cantilevered beam can oscillate independent of each other, the interdigitating fingers separated by gaps that are configured to reflect light from the interdigitating fingers during oscillation of the first and second cantilevered beams to form a diffraction pattern.

System for weighing individual micro- and nano-sized particles

A method for measuring mass of a micro- and nano-sized particle. The method includes placing the micro- or nano-sized particle on a resonator having an oscillator and a first and second cantilevered arms with interdigitating finger, energizing the oscillator at a selective frequency thereby causing mechanical vibration in the first and second cantilevered arms, directing a light beam from a light source onto the interdigitating fingers, sensing intensity of light of the reflected diffraction pattern by at least one photodetector positioned about at least one of the modes, varying the frequency by sweeping a range of frequencies and correlating the sensed intensity to mass to thereby determine the mass of the micro- or nano-sized particle.

Method for weighing individual micro- and nano-sized particles

A device for weighing micro- and nano-sized particles. The device includes a base portion, an oscillator coupled to the base portion and configured to vibrate the base portion, a first cantilevered beam coupled to the base portion, a second cantilevered beam coupled to the base portion, a first plurality of fingers coupled to the first cantilevered beam near the tip inwardly pointing toward the second cantilevered beam, and a second plurality of fingers coupled to the second cantilevered beam near the tip inwardly pointing toward the first cantilevered beam.

Systems and methods for rapid and ultrasensitive detection of target biomolecules in a sample are presented. The detection of biomolecules is achieved through a synergistic use of immunoseparation and diffractometry, and the formation of antibody-biomolecule-ligand sandwich complexes that form diffraction gratings. Characteristic diffraction patterns are then produced upon illumination of the diffraction gratings with light. The diffraction patterns can be used to detect very low amounts of biomolecules present in the sample.

Ultrasensitive detection of biomolecules using immunoseparation and diffractometry

A system for and method of performing multi-technique imaging. Such multi-technique imaging system includes a surface for supporting a specimen and at least two illumination sources for producing light radiation. The system also includes a plurality of reflective and refractive devices arranged to direct at least part of the light radiation from each of the at least two illumination sources to the surface such that at least part of the light radiation from each of the at least two illumination sources illuminates substantially the same area on the surface. The system also includes a sensor configured to receive light radiation from the at least two illumination sources reflected by the specimen and/or that pass by the specimen. The system also includes a power source configured to power the at least two illumination sources and the sensor.

Multi-technique imaging system using vertical motion of stage to switch imaging techniques

An apparatus for the micromanipulation of micro-sized objects includes a micromanipulation device in the form of a hollow frame having a base, resiliently deflectable arms projecting from the base and defining a gap for receiving a micro-sized object, and a saddle connected to the tips of the arms between the base and the tips. A force generating device applies a force to the saddle to deflect the tips inwards to close the gap about the micro-sized object. A fixture is provided for supporting the micromanipulation device and force generating device. The force generating device can be a micrometer. The micromanipulation device is configured for production using micro-fabrication techniques. The micromanipulation device may include a piercing element for piercing an object positioned between the arms of the device, and may further include a notch aligned with the piercing element for retaining the object.

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West Lafayette, IN, United States of America

Cagri Abdullah Savran