Facile Coupling of Droplet Magnetofluidic-Enabled Automated Sample Preparation for Digital Nucleic Acid Amplification Testing and Analysis.

Digital nucleic acid amplification testing (dNAAT) and analysis techniques, such as digital polymerase chain reaction (PCR), have become useful clinical diagnostic tools. However, nucleic acid (NA) sample preparation preceding dNAAT is generally laborious and performed manually, thus creating the need for a simple sample preparation technique and a facile coupling strategy for dNAAT. Therefore, we demonstrate a simple workflow which automates magnetic bead-based extraction of NAs with a one-step transfer to dNAAT.

Calorimetric Biosensing System for Quantification of Urinary Creatinine.

In this work, we demonstrate the quantification of creatinine in human urine samples using a microcalorimetric sensing system. The calorimetric sensor is based on an array of microfabricated Y-cut quartz resonators. The piezoelectric quartz is etched down to a thickness of 10 μm and exhibits a bulk acoustic resonance of 166 MHz.

Self-Healing Textile: Enzyme Encapsulated Layer-by-Layer Structural Proteins.

Self-healing materials, which enable an autonomous repair response to damage, are highly desirable for the long-term reliability of woven or nonwoven textiles. Polyelectrolyte layer-by-layer (LbL) films are of considerable interest as self-healing coatings due to the mobility of the components comprising the film. In this work mechanically stable self-healing films were fabricated through construction of a polyelectrolyte LbL film containing squid ring teeth (SRT) proteins.

Cellulose Microfibril Formation by Surface-Tethered Cellulose Synthase Enzymes.

Cellulose microfibrils are pseudocrystalline arrays of cellulose chains that are synthesized by cellulose synthases. The enzymes are organized into large membrane-embedded complexes in which each enzyme likely synthesizes and secretes a β-(1→4) glucan. The relationship between the organization of the enzymes in these complexes and cellulose crystallization has not been explored.

Remote calorimetric detection of urea via flow injection analysis.

The design and development of a calorimetric biosensing system enabling relatively high throughput sample analysis are reported. The calorimetric biosensor system consists of a thin (∼20 μm) micromachined Y-cut quartz crystal resonator (QCR) as a temperature sensor placed in close proximity to a fluidic chamber packed with an immobilized enzyme. Layer by layer enzyme immobilization of urease is demonstrated and its activity as a function of the number of layers, pH, and time has been evaluated.

Improved micromachined column design and fluidic interconnects for programmed high-temperature gas chromatography separations.

This work focuses on the development and experimental evaluation of micromachined chromatographic columns for use in a commercial gas chromatography (GC) system. A vespel/graphite ferrule based compression sealing technique is presented using which leak-proof fluidic interconnection between the inlet tubing and the microchannel was achieved. This sealing technique enabled separation at temperatures up to 350°C on a μGC column.