Systems and methods for on-chip analysis of nucleic acids and for multiplexed analysis of cells

Abstract

A microfluidic chip for on-chip detection of the presence or absence of a target nucleic acid region in an isolated nucleic acid sample is disclosed. The microfluidic chip includes a nucleic acid entanglement array, an isolated nucleic acid sample immobilized in the nucleic acid entanglement array, and at least one probe specific to a target nucleic acid region. Systems and methods of using the microfluidic chip are disclosed. An integrated microfluidic cell processing system is disclosed, which includes: a multiplexed microfluidic flow directing system having a plurality of reconfigurable microfluidic layers that form a plurality of reconfigurable microfluidic channels, where the multiplexed microfluidic flow directing system function to assist in directing flow of materials into, through, and out of the integrated cell processing system; and at least one microfluidic chip functionally integrated into at least one layer of the multiplexed microfluidic flow directing system, and operates under continuous flow conditions.