GEL ELECTROPHORESIS DIAGNOSTIC KIT AND METHODS OF USING THE SAME

1 . A biomarker detector cartridge comprising:

a cartridge body;

a fluid collector coupled to the cartridge body configured to collect a fluid comprising a biomarker;

an electrophoretic cell coupled to the cartridge body and comprising a separation medium; and

a nanoswitch source disposed in the cartridge body and configured to contact the fluid.

2 . The biomarker detector cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge body comprises a channel that fluidly couples the fluid collector to the electrophoretic cell.

3 . The biomarker detector cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the fluid collector comprises the nanoswitch source.

4 . The biomarker detector cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge body comprises an assay portion and a sample portion that are separable, wherein the assay portion comprises the electrophoretic cell and the sample portion comprises the fluid collector.

5 . The biomarker detector cartridge of claim 4 , wherein the assay portion and the sample portion are separated by a removable barrier.

6 . The biomarker detector cartridge of claim 4 , wherein the assay portion and the sample portion are connectable.

7 . The biomarker detector cartridge of any one of the preceding claims , wherein the nanoswitch source comprises a DNA nanoswitch configured to bind the biomarker.

8 . The biomarker detector cartridge of any one of the preceding claims , wherein the nanoswitch source comprises a plurality of nanoswitch sources.

9 . The biomarker detector cartridge of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of nanoswitch sources comprise:

a first DNA nanoswitch configured to bind a first biomarker; and

a second DNA nanoswitch configured to bind a second biomarker.

10 . The biomarker detector cartridge of any one of the preceding claims , wherein the fluid collector comprises a sponge.

11 . The biomarker detector cartridge of any one of the preceding claims , wherein the separation medium comprises a viscous solution or a gel.

12 . The biomarker detector cartridge of claim 11 , wherein the gel comprises an agarose gel, a polyacrylamide gel, or a starch gel.

13 . The biomarker detector cartridge of any one of the preceding claims , wherein the electrophoretic cell comprises a stain.

14 . The biomarker detector cartridge of any one of the preceding claims , wherein the electrophoretic cell comprises electrical contacts.

15 . The biomarker detector cartridge of any one of the preceding claims , wherein the fluid comprises a bodily fluid.

16 . The biomarker detector cartridge of claim 15 , wherein the bodily fluid comprises whole blood, serum, urine, saliva, swabbed samples, mucus, or semen.

17 . The biomarker detector cartridge of any one of claims 1 to 16 , wherein the biomarker comprises a biomarker for a biological event.

18 . The biomarker detector cartridge of claim 17 , wherein the biomarker for a biological event comprises one or more of a disease biomarker, an inflammation biomarker, a reproduction biomarker, and an aging biomarker.

19 . The biomarker detector cartridge of claim 18 , wherein the reproduction biomarker comprises one or more of an ovulation biomarker, a fertilization biomarker, an implantation biomarker, and an embryo development biomarker.

20 . The biomarker detector cartridge of any one of the preceding claims , comprising a cap configured to cover the fluid collector before fluid collection or after fluid collection.

21 . The biomarker detector cartridge of any one of the preceding claims , comprising a cap configured to compress the fluid collector after fluid collection to direct collected fluid to the electrophoretic cell.

22 . The biomarker detector cartridge of any one of the preceding claims , wherein the nanoswitch source comprises a sticker, a capsule, a pellet, or a residue.

23 . The biomarker detector cartridge of any one of the preceding claims , comprising a test result indicator coupled to the electrophoretic cell.

24 . A base for processing a biomarker detector cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 23 , the base comprising:

a biomarker detector cartridge receiver;

electrical contacts proximate to the cartridge receiver and configured to communicate with the electrophoretic cell; and

an electrophoresis cell reader proximate to the cartridge receiver.

25 . The base of claim 24 , wherein the electrophoresis cell reader comprises a photodetector.

26 . The base of claim 25 , wherein the photodetector comprises one or more of a photomultiplier tube detector and a photodiode detector.

27 . The base of claim 26 , wherein the photodiode detector comprises a PN based detector, a PIN based detector, an APD based detector, a CMOS based detector, and a CCD based detector.

28 . The base of any one of claims 24 to 27 , wherein the electrophoresis cell reader comprises a light source.

29 . The base of any one of claims 24 to 28 , wherein the electrophoresis cell reader comprises a filter.

30 . The base of any one of claims 24 to 29 , wherein the base comprises a transmitter in communication with the electrophoresis cell reader.

31 . A method for detecting a biomarker in a fluid, the method comprising the steps of:

collecting a fluid comprising a biomarker with a fluid collector of a biomarker detector cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 23 ;

contacting the fluid with the nanoswitch source;

transferring the fluid to the electrophoretic cell;

connecting the biomarker detector cartridge to a base according to any one of claims 24 to 30 through the biomarker detector cartridge receiver of the base;

processing a separation medium at the electrophoretic cell; and

reading the processed separation medium with the electrophoresis cell reader at the base.

32 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the step of contacting the fluid with the nanoswitch source comprises delivering a plurality of DNA nanoswitches to the fluid that bind the biomarker.

33 . The method of any one of claims 31 and 32 , wherein the fluid comprises a bodily fluid.

34 . The method of claim 33 , wherein the bodily fluid comprises whole blood, serum, urine, saliva, swabbed samples, mucus, or semen.

35 . The method of any one of claims 31 to 34 , wherein the biomarker comprises a biomarker for a biological event.

36 . The method of claim 35 , wherein the biomarker for a biological event comprises one or more of a disease biomarker, an inflammation biomarker, a reproduction biomarker, and an aging biomarker.

37 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the reproduction biomarker comprises one or more of an ovulation biomarker, a fertilization biomarker, an implantation biomarker, and an embryo development biomarker.

38 . The method of any one of claims 31 to 37 , wherein the step of collecting the fluid comprising the biomarker includes contacting the fluid with the nanoswitch source.