Abstract:
This disclosure relates to subnormothermic machine perfusion formulations for ex vivo preservation of allografts, and methods of use thereof.
Abstract:
This disclosure relates to new assay methods for analysis of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in blood samples for detection, e.g., early detection, and/or monitoring of disease, e.g., cancer. The methods provide ultra-high sensitivity and specificity, and include the use of microfluidic isolation of CTCs and digital detection of RNA derived from the CTCs.
Abstract:
Methods for stabilizing blood samples, e.g., clinical blood samples, for storage or transportation before use. Exemplary applications include but are not limited to enrichment of leukocyte subtypes such as T-cells or neutrophils for cytokine and immuno-assays; isolation of progenitor cells from cord blood or peripheral blood for transplantation; isolation of fetal cells from the maternal blood for diagnosis; and sorting of circulating tumor cells for cancer detection and therapy.
Abstract:
A microfluidic device for manipulating particles can include a substrate and one or more obstacles, each obstacle comprising a plurality of aligned nanostructures including a plurality of nanoparticles or a plurality of polymer layers, or a combination thereof. The obstacle on a substrate can be forests with intra-carbon nanotube spacing ranging between 5-100nm for isolation of particles such as very small viruses and proteins.
Abstract:
Methods, apparatuses, and microfluidic systems for pre-depletion of leukocytes in whole blood samples prior to the capture of whole blood sample components is described. A microfluidic device is used to pre-deplete the leukocytes in a whole blood sample. To do so, parallel micro-channels in the microfluidic device are treated with binding moieties to bind leukocytes but not target cells. When the whole blood sample is flowed through the microfluidic device, it is depleted of the leukocytes to form a depleted sample. The depleted sample is then flowed through a second micro-channel treated to bind target cells.
Abstract:
The invention features devices and methods for the enrichment of cells and other desired analytes by employing a magnetic field, alone or in conjunction with size-based separation. The devices and methods may be advantageously employed to enrich for rare cells, e.g., fetal cells or epithelial cells, present in a sample, e.g., maternal blood.
Abstract:
The invention features devices and methods for the deterministic separation of particles. Exemplary methods include the enrichment of a sample in a desired particle or the alteration of a desired particle in the device. The devices and methods are advantageously employed to enrich for rare cells, e.g., fetal cells, present in a sample, e.g., maternal blood and rare cell components, e.g., fetal cell nuclei. The invention further provides a method for preferentially lysing cells of interest in a sample, e.g., to extract clinical information from a cellular component, e.g., a nucleus, of the cells of interest. In general, the method employs differential lysis between the cells of interest and other cells (e.g., other nucleated cells) in the sample.
Abstract:
The invention features devices and methods for detecting, enriching, and analyzing circulating tumor cells and other particles. The invention further features methods of diagnosing a condition, e.g., cancer, in a subject by analyzing a cellular sample from the subject.
Abstract:
The present invention generally relates to devices and methods for the preservation of cells using drying, freezing, and other related techniques. In one set of embodiments, the invention allows for the preservation of cells in a dried state. In another set of embodiments, the invention allows for the preservation of cells within a glass or other non-viscous, non-frozen media. In some embodiments, the invention allows for the preservation of cells at temperatures below the freezing point of water, and in some cases at cryogenic temperatures, without inducing ice formation. The cells, in certain embodiments, may be preserved in the presence of intracellular and/or extracellular carbohydrates (which may be the same or different), for example, trehalose and sucrose. Carbohydrates may be transported intracellularly by any suitable technique, for example, using microinjection, or through non-microinjected methods such as through pore-forming proteins, electroporation, heat shock, etc. In certain instances, the glass transition temperature of the cells may be raised, e.g., by transporting a carbohydrate intracellularly. In some cases, the cells may be dried and/or stored, for example, in a substantially moisture-saturated environment or a desiccating environment. The cells may also be stored in a vacuum or a partial vacuum. The cells may be protected from oxygen, moisture, and/or light during storage. In certain cases, an inhibitor, such as a cell death inhibitor, a protease inhibitor, an apoptosis inhibitor, and/or an oxidative stress inhibitor may be used during preservation of the cells. The cells may be stored for any length of time, then recovered to a viable state, e.g., through rehydration, for further use.
Abstract:
The present disclosure relates to a perfusate, a storage solution, or a recovery solution having an apoptosis inhibitor. Also disclosed are various uses, including preserving a biological tissue sample and mitigating ischemia-reperfusion injury in such samples.