Effects of solvent-based adhesive removal on the subsequent dual analysis of fingerprint and DNA.

The combined approach of classical fingerprinting and DNA profiling is a powerful tool in forensic investigations of latent "touch" traces. However, little attention has been paid to the organic solvents frequently used in dactyloscopic laboratories to facilitate the separation of adhesive evidence prior to fingerprint development and downstream effects on subsequent DNA profiling. In the present study, we tested a selection of adhesive removers (n = 9) and assessed their potential impact on DNA recovery and amplification by PCR.

Rapid liposome quality assessment using a lab-on-a-chip.

Although liposomes have many outstanding features such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, low toxicity and structural diversity, and are successfully applied in many areas of chemistry and biotechnology, a lack of characterization standards and quality control tools are still inhibiting the translation of liposome technology into clinical routine. The greatest obstacle to clinical scale commercialization is the inability to ensure liposome formulation stability because small size variations or altered surface chemistries can significantly influence in vivo distribution and excretion kinetics that could in turn lead to unpredictable therapy outcomes. To enhance the product development process we have developed a microfluidic biochip containing embedded dielectric microsensors capable of providing quantitative results on formulation composition and stability based on the monitoring of the unique electric properties of liposomes.

3D numerical simulation of a lab-on-a-chip--increasing measurement sensitivity of interdigitated capacitors by passivation optimization.

Interdigital electrode structures (IDES) play a major role in many technical and analytical applications. In particular, they are a key technology in modern lab-on-a-chip (LOC) devices. As high sensitivity is a key component of any (bio)analytical method, the presented work is aimed at designing a novel dielectric sensing system, which exhibits maximum sensor sensitivity using passivated dielectric microsensors.

Detection of viruses with molecularly imprinted polymers integrated on a microfluidic biochip using contact-less dielectric microsensors.

Rapid detection of viral contamination remains a pressing issue in various fields related to human health including clinical diagnostics, the monitoring of food-borne pathogens, the detection of biological warfare agents as well as in viral clearance studies for biopharmaceutical products. The majority of currently available assays for virus detection are expensive, time-consuming, and labor-intensive. In the present work we report the creation of a novel micro total analysis system (microTAS) capable of continuously monitoring viral contamination with high sensitivity and selectivity.

Development of a disposable microfluidic biochip for multiparameter cell population measurements.

An under recognized cause of preventable mortality is healthcare-associated (nosocomial) infections such as biofilms found on implants and catheters. About 5% of U.S.