Fraunhofer-gesellschaft Zur Foerderung Der Angewandten Forschung E.v.

Harvard College

Chung Yuan Christian University

Ralph Alexander Sperling

David A Weitz

Adam R Abate

Ralf Himmelreich

Teresa Pellegrino

Walter Hong-Shong Chang

Tobias Schunck

Raphael Thiermann

Jimmy Kuan-Jung Li

Wolfgang Parak

Esther Amstad

The present invention generally relates to systems and techniques for manipulating fluids and/or making droplets. In certain aspects, the present invention generally relates to droplet production. The droplets may be formed from fluids from different sources. In one set of embodiments, the present invention is directed to a microfluidic device comprising a plurality of droplet-making units, and/or other fluidic units, which may be substantially identical in some cases. Substantially each of the fluidic units may be in fluidic communication with a different source of a first fluid and a common source of a second fluid, in certain embodiments. In one aspect, substantially the same pressure may be applied to substantially all of the different sources of fluid, which may be used to cause fluid to move from the different sources into the microfluidic device. In some cases, the fluids may interact within the fluidic units, e.g., by reacting, or for the production of droplets within the microfluidic device. In some cases, the droplets may be used, for example, to form a library of droplets.

Systems and methods for droplet production and/or fluidic manipulation

The invention presents a stationary phase for detecting at least one specific analyte in a mixture. The stationary phase includes a solid phase divided into a plurality of zones for transporting liquid by capillary force. The solid phase includes at least one first zone suitable for receiving a liquid sample, a second zone on which a receptor is immobilized, wherein the receptor is suitable for binding to a ligand, and a third zone on which quantum dots are immobilized, function as FRET donors and are linked to at least one suitable FRET acceptor via at least one oligonucleotide linker. The stationary phase exhibits improved detection sensitivity and allows simultaneous and multiparametric detection of a wide variety of analytes. The invention proposes uses of the stationary phase and also presents a method for detecting at least one specific analyte in a mixture.

Stationary phase for detecting a specific analyte in a mixture, uses thereof and method for detecting a specific analyte in a mixture

The present invention discloses a method for separating nanoparticles with a controlled number of active groups is disclosed. First, a plurality of nanoparticles are provided, wherein the surface of the nanoparticle comprises a plurality of first active groups. Next, a plurality of functional ligands are provided, wherein the functional ligand comprises at least one second active group and at least one third active group. Then, a binding process is performed to bind the nanoparticle with the functional ligand, wherein the first active group connects with the second active group. After the binding process, a separation process is performed to isolate a plurality of nanoparticles with a controlled number of the third active groups. The controlled number is integers from 0 to 10.

Method for separating nanoparticles with a controlled number of active groups

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Eltville, Germany

Ralph Alexander Sperling