Abstract:
Magnetic nanoparticles and methods for their use in detecting biological molecules are disclosed. The magnetic nanoparticles can be attached to nucleic acid molecules, which are then captured by a complementary sequence attached to a detector, such as a spin valve detector or a magnetic tunnel junction detector. The detection of the bound magnetic nanoparticle can be achieved with high specificity and sensitivity.
Abstract:
Dumbbell-shaped or flower-shaped nanoparticles and a process of forming the same, wherein the process comprises forming a mixture of a nanoparticle with a precursor in a first solvent, wherein the nanoparticle comprises a hydrophobic outer coating; heating the mixture; cooling the mixture to room temperature; modifying the hydrophobic outer coating into a hydrophilic outer coating; precipitating a solid product from the mixture, and dispersing the product in a second solvent. The nanoparticles comprise any of a semiconducting, magnetic, and noble metallic material, wherein the nanoparticles comprise a first portion comprising any of PbSe, PbS, CdSe, CdS, ZnS, Au, Ag, Pd, and Pt, and wherein the precursor comprises any of a cationic, neutral or particulate Au, Ag, Pd, Pt, or transition metal (Fe, Co, Ni) precursors of Fe(CO)5, Co(CO)8, Ni(CO)4 or their analogues. The first and second solvents comprise any of alkanes, arenes, ethers, nitrites, ketones, and chlorinated hydrocarbons.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a magnetic sifter that is small in scale, enables three-dimensional flow in a direction normal to the substrate, allows relatively higher capture rates and higher flow rates, and provides a relatively easy method of releasing captured biomolecules. The magnetic sifter includes at least one substrate. Each substrate contains a plurality of slits, each of which extends through the substrate. The sifter also includes a plurality of magnets attached to the bottom surface of the substrate. These magnets are located proximal to the openings of the slits. An electromagnetic source controls the magnitude and direction of magnetic field gradient generated by the magnets. Either one device may be used, or multiple devices may be used in series. In addition, the magnetic sifter may be used in connection with a detection chamber.
Abstract:
The present invention provides microfluidic devices constructed from four layers. The layers include a rigid substrate layer, a patterned rigid layer having thickness t, a patterned elastomeric layer having thickness greater than t, and a rigid support layer. Microfluidic structures in the devices are defined by the alignment of openings in the patterned rigid layer and the patterned elastomeric layer. The rigid support layer, rigid substrate layer, and patterned rigid layer may be made of any rigid material, including but not limited to plastic or silicon-containing materials, such as glass, quartz, or SiO2-coated materials. Similarly, the patterned elastomeric layer may be made of any elastomeric material, including but not limited to polydimethylsiloxanes, polymethylmethacrylates, perfluoropolyethers, or combinations thereof. Microfluidic devices according to the present invention may include sensors or sensor arrays. The microfluidic devices are fabricated using the provided error-tolerant alignment, biocompatible process.
Abstract:
A method of determining the length of a polynucleotide target is provided. With this method, a target is first hybridized to an array of first probes having different, determined lengths, resulting in the formation of duplexes between the polynucleotide target and the first probes. These duplexes have a single stranded section of target if the target is longer than the first probe it is in a duplex with. Next, a second probe having a determined length is hybridized to these duplexes. If the length of the target is greater than the length of the first probe it is displaced during this hybridization step by the process of branch migration. In contrast, if the length of the target is less than or equal to the length of the first probe, it is not displaced. Thus, the length of the polynucleotide target can be determined.
Abstract:
The signaling used in saturation magnetic recording is described as pulse width modulation (“PWM”). A continuous range of magnet lengths are defined between a minimum length (the smallest magnet length that can be written) and a maximum length (the longest magnet that can be read without losing clock synchronization). The recorded magnets are then partitioned into cosets according to the position of the last transition in the magnet. A finite state convolutional encoder can be used to constrain the sequence of magnet cosets. Instead of using these variable length symbols, however, the code is expressed in terms of a synchronous PAM channel, in which two consecutive transitions define a magnet. Using this expression, the code constraint on transition position is an equivalent constraint on magnet length. An appropriate encoder is created to encode the constrained code. A Viterbi detector, which reflects the code constraints, has states which are the product of the channel states of a conventional PRML detector and the encoder states. Because of the constraints, only a small subset of all branches are permitted at each resulting trellis update. A conventional sliding block decoder can be used to decode the data. In this way, a complete coded recording system can be constructed using standard building blocks of existing PRML channels, namely, a finite state encoder, a Viterbi detector and a sliding block decoder.