Versatile exclusion-based sample preparation platform for integrated rare cell isolation and analyte extraction.

Rare cell populations provide a patient-centric tool to monitor disease treatment, response, and resistance. However, understanding rare cells is a complex problem, which requires cell isolation/purification and downstream molecular interrogation - processes challenged by non-target populations, which vary patient-to-patient and change with disease. As such, cell isolation platforms must be amenable to a range of sample types while maintaining high efficiency and purity.

Integration of Magnetic Bead-Based Cell Selection into Complex Isolations.

Magnetic bead-based analyte capture has emerged as a ubiquitous method in cell isolation, enabling the highly specific capture of target populations through simple magnetic manipulation. To date, no "one-size fits all" magnetic bead has been widely adopted leading to an overwhelming number of commercial beads. Ultimately, the ideal bead is one that not only facilitates cell isolation but also proves compatible with the widest range of downstream applications and analytic endpoints.

RNA-mediated TILDA for improved cell capacity and enhanced detection of multiply-spliced HIV RNA.

Quantification of the HIV viral reservoir is critical to understanding HIV latency, advancing patient care and ultimately achieving a cure. To quantify the reservoir, a new metric was recently introduced, which quantified cells carrying multiply spliced HIV RNA. The developed assay, Tat/rev Induced Limiting Dilution Assay (TILDA), enables quantification of cells containing multiply-spliced HIV RNA events as an indicator of reservoir size.

Magnetic System for Automated Manipulation of Paramagnetic Particles.

The simple, rapid magnetic manipulation of paramagnetic particles (PMPs) paired with the wide range of available surface chemistries has strongly positioned PMPs in the field of analyte isolation. One recent technology, sliding lid for immobilized droplet extractions (SLIDE), presents a simple, rapid alternative to traditional PMP isolation protocols. Rather than remove fluid from PMP-bound analyte, SLIDE directly removes the PMPs from the fluid.

High Specificity in Circulating Tumor Cell Identification Is Required for Accurate Evaluation of Programmed Death-Ligand 1.

Background: Expression of programmed-death ligand 1 (PD-L1) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is typically evaluated through invasive biopsies; however, recent advances in the identification of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) may be a less invasive method to assay tumor cells for these purposes. These liquid biopsies rely on accurate identification of CTCs from the diverse populations in the blood, where some tumor cells share characteristics with normal blood cells. While many blood cells can be excluded by their high expression of CD45, neutrophils and other immature myeloid subsets have low to absent expression of CD45 and also express PD-L1.

AirJump: Using Interfaces to Instantly Perform Simultaneous Extractions.

Analyte isolation is an important process that spans a range of biomedical disciplines, including diagnostics, research, and forensics. While downstream analytical techniques have advanced in terms of both capability and throughput, analyte isolation technology has lagged behind, increasingly becoming the bottleneck in these processes. Thus, there exists a need for simple, fast, and easy to integrate analyte separation protocols to alleviate this bottleneck.

Using Exclusion-Based Sample Preparation (ESP) to Reduce Viral Load Assay Cost.

Viral load (VL) measurements are critical to the proper management of HIV in developing countries. However, access to VL assays is limited by the high cost and complexity of existing assays. While there is a need for low cost VL assays, performance must not be compromised.

Development of a Highly Sensitive Cell-Based Assay for Detecting Botulinum Neurotoxin Type A through Neural Culture Media Optimization.

Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) is the most lethal naturally produced neurotoxin. Due to the extreme toxicity, BoNTs are implicated in bioterrorism, while the specific mechanism of action and long-lasting effect was found to be medically applicable in treating various neurological disorders. Therefore, for both public and patient safety, a highly sensitive, physiologic, and specific assay is needed.

HIV viral RNA extraction in wax immiscible filtration assisted by surface tension (IFAST) devices.

The monitoring of viral load is critical for proper management of antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients. Unfortunately, in the developing world, significant economic and geographical barriers exist, limiting access to this test. The complexity of current viral load assays makes them expensive and their access limited to advanced facilities.

Exclusion-Based Capture and Enumeration of CD4+ T Cells from Whole Blood for Low-Resource Settings.

In developing countries, demand exists for a cost-effective method to evaluate human immunodeficiency virus patients' CD4(+) T-helper cell count. The TH (CD4) cell count is the current marker used to identify when an HIV patient has progressed to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, which results when the immune system can no longer prevent certain opportunistic infections. A system to perform TH count that obviates the use of costly flow cytometry will enable physicians to more closely follow patients' disease progression and response to therapy in areas where such advanced equipment is unavailable.