City University of Hong Kong

Peng Shi

Xudong Lin

Wenjun Zhang

Xin Wang

Xianfeng Chen

Linfeng Huang

Ming Liu

Zixun Wang

A method of determining one or more target nucleic acids in cells includes the steps of: delivering one or more probes into the cells, each of the one or more probes being capable of binding with corresponding target nucleic acid present in the cells to form a double-stranded sequence; inserting an array of functionalized nanoneedles into the cells to bind with the double-stranded sequence; and hybridizing the bound double-stranded sequence with a first and second DNA sequence to produce a hybridized product, the first and second DNA sequence being at least partially complementary to each other. A kit for determining a target nucleic acid in cells includes a first reagent comprising a probe for binding with the target nucleic acid to form a double-stranded sequence; and an array of functionalized nanoneedles comprising a protein for binding with the double-stranded sequence.

Method of determining target nucleic acid

A method for analyzing neuropharmacology of a drug, including the steps of providing a set of brain activity maps representing changes of a brain activity of a living species under an influence of a plurality of known drugs each consisting of a known chemical structure; clustering the set of brain activity maps to form a plurality of functional classifiers; and classifying a brain activity map associated with a chemical compound using the functional classifiers so as to predict a neuropharmacology of the chemical compound.

Method and a system for analyzing neuropharmacology of a drug

A wireless optogenetic device in proximity to a neural cell of a subject includes a body configured to hold light transducing materials arranged to up-convert electromagnetic radiation in infrared or near-infrared spectrum into light in the visible spectrum to affect activity of the neural cell. The body allows electromagnetic radiation in infrared or near-infrared to reach the light transducing materials. A radiation system includes a radiation probe for irradiating a wireless optogenetic device with electromagnetic radiation in infrared or near-infrared spectrum from a radiation source. The system further includes a movement mechanism for moving the radiation probe, a detector for detecting a location of the wireless optogenetic device, and a controller for controlling the movement mechanism based on the detected location of the wireless optogenetic device such that the radiation probe is arranged to irradiate the wireless optogenetic device at the detected location with the electromagnetic radiation.

Wireless optogenetic device and associated radiation system

There is provided a system for automated handling of live organisms for studying biological development of the organisms. The system has a reservoir for containing a plurality of the organisms, a module for automatically trapping and orienting the organisms in desired positions for imaging purpose, a module for automatically controlling orientation of the organisms leaving the reservoir and entering the trapping and orienting module, and a module for automatically loading the organisms from the reservoir into the orientation control module. The trapping and orienting module may include an array of channels configured to allow flow of fluid and travel of the organisms in the system.

Systems and methods for automated handling of live organisms

The present invention is concerned with a system and method for introducing a substance into cells. The system has an assembly including a plurality of elongate non-hollow nanoneedles forming a nanoneedle array or patch for delivering the substance into the cells, at least some of the nanoneedles have a non-uniform diameter with a wider upper end, a narrower lower end for penetration into the cells and a length from substantially 200 nm to 100 um. The lower end has a diameter from substantially 20-436 nm. Adjacent nanoneedles are spaced apart by substantially 5-50 um. The nanoneedles are made from a material selected from the group consisting of diamond, cubic boron nitride, carbon nitride, boron nitride, boron carbon nitride, metal borides and essentially boron materials, allowing the nanoneedles to maintain sufficient thinness and yet adequate rigidity during penetration. The nanoneedles are applied onto the cells grown on substrates at a preferred rate from 1 to 5 m/s. Alternatively, the nanoneedles are applied onto the cells grown on substrates by centrifugation force from 0.5 to 10 nN. Yet alternatively, the cells suspended in a fluid are applied to the nanoneedle array at a rate of 1 to 10 m/s.

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Hong Kong, China

Peng Shi