摘要:
Molecular adsorption to the microfluidic device surfaces can be passively and actively mitigated by mixing certain hydrophilic polymers (organic polymers with repeating hydrophilic groups—the preferred polymers being amphipathic surfactants—with the sample liquid during or prior to relevant microfluidic operations. Nonionic surfactants such as polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate and polyoxyethylene octyl phenyl ether are especially effective. High molecular weight polyethylene polymers are also effective. The hydrophilic polymers appear to prevent binding of the fouling molecules to the microfluidic by occupying the surface sites in place of the fouling molecules or by interacting with the fouling molecules to prevent binding of the fouling molecules the surface. When surface adsorption is thus mitigated, microfluidic devices can readily handle samples containing biomolecules to enable active sample concentration, filtering, washing, transport, mixing and other sample handling operations.
摘要:
Methods of improving microfluidic assays are disclosed. Assays can be improved (better signal to noise ratio) by using sessile drop evaporation as an analyte concentration step (enhanced signal) and repeated passes of wash droplets as a means to reduce non-specific binding (noise reduction). In addition multiple massively parallel analyses improve the statistical precision of the analyses.
摘要:
Molecular adsorption to the microfluidic device surfaces can be passively and actively mitigated by mixing certain hydrophilic polymers (organic polymers with repeating hydrophilic groups—the preferred polymers being amphipathic surfactants—with the sample liquid during or prior to relevant microfluidic operations. Nonionic surfactants such as polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate and polyoxyethylene octyl phenyl ether are especially effective. High molecular weight polyethylene polymers are also effective. The hydrophilic polymers appear to prevent binding of the fouling molecules to the microfluidic by occupying the surface sites in place of the fouling molecules or by interacting with the fouling molecules to prevent binding of the fouling molecules the surface. When surface adsorption is thus mitigated, microfluidic devices can readily handle samples containing biomolecules to enable active sample concentration, filtering, washing, transport, mixing and other sample handling operations.
摘要:
A microbial fuel cell comprising: an anode; an anode chamber configured to house the anode and an oxygen-reduced, nutrient-rich solution from a sediment bottom of a natural water body, wherein the anode chamber shields the anode from surrounding oxygen-rich water; a cathode disposed outside the anode chamber in the oxygen-rich water and electrically coupled in series to the anode via an electrical load; and an agitator configured to periodically agitate the sediment bottom to increase the quantity of nutrients in the nutrient-rich solution.
摘要:
An energy harvester comprising: a microbial fuel cell comprising an anode; and a pump comprising a flexible diaphragm that is configured to be flexed by an ambient, renewable energy source such that with each flexing of the diaphragm nutrient-rich media is pumped past the anode.
摘要:
An energy harvester comprising: a microbial fuel cell comprising an anode; and a pump comprising a flexible diaphragm that is configured to be flexed by an ambient, renewable energy source such that with each flexing of the diaphragm nutrient-rich media is pumped past the anode.
摘要:
Remotely controlled platforms for experimentation provide for centralized placement of costly and space consuming experimentation equipment. Additionally, remotely controlled platforms take advantage of economies of scale to make the centralized experimentation platforms more available for students and researchers of institutions that cannot afford to have institutional ownership of the experimentation platforms.