High-throughput rapid-prototyping of low-cost paper-based microfluidics

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Paper-based microfluidic devices offer cost-effectiveness and ease of use compared to traditional microfluidic chips.
• Key features like capillary action and biological compatibility are preserved in paper-based platforms.
• Existing fabrication methods can be costly and time-consuming.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an inexpensive, rapid, and high-throughput method for fabricating paper-based microfluidic devices.
• To investigate the effectiveness of using a desktop pen plotter for patterning hydrophobic barriers.
• To optimize marker selection and plotting parameters for reliable barrier formation.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a desktop pen plotter with a custom paper feeder for high-throughput patterning.
• Tested various commercial permanent markers for water-resistant hydrophobic barrier creation.
• Evaluated marker performance across different paper types, plotting speeds, and pattern dimensions.
• Verified fabrication method effectiveness using colorimetric analysis of a glucose assay.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated a rapid and cost-effective method for fabricating paper-based microfluidics.
• Identified optimal marker types and plotting parameters for reproducible hydrophobic barriers.
• Confirmed the successful application of the fabricated devices in a glucose assay.

Conclusions:

• The pen plotter-based fabrication method provides an accessible and efficient approach for creating paper microfluidic devices.
• This technique facilitates high-throughput production, making paper-based analytical devices more widely available.
• The validated glucose assay demonstrates the practical utility of this fabrication method for various analytical applications.