Development of a Paper-Based Microfluidic System for a Continuous High-Flow-Rate Fluid Manipulation.

Area of Science:

• Microfluidics
• Analytical Chemistry
• Materials Science

Background:

• Traditional paper-based microfluidic devices have limited fluid processing capabilities.
• High-throughput sample analysis is crucial for many diagnostic applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a disposable paper-based microfluidic system with enhanced fluid processing capacity.
• To demonstrate the system's utility for microparticle enrichment via inertial focusing.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of microchannels on paper substrates using CO2 laser engraving.
• Hydrophobization of paper using alkenyl ketene dimer treatment and lamination.
• Testing microparticle enrichment using inertial focusing at high flow rates (up to 1.5 mL/min).

Main Results:

• A clean-room-free fabrication method yielding microchannels with depths down to ~80 μm.
• Continuous fluid processing at a high flow rate of up to 1.5 mL/min.
• Successful enrichment of microparticles demonstrating the system's potential for diagnostics.

Conclusions:

• The developed paper-based microfluidic system offers a robust and high-throughput solution for fluid sample processing.
• This technology is promising for diagnostic applications requiring the analysis of low-analyte concentrations in large sample volumes.
• The system's disposable nature and ease of fabrication reduce costs and improve accessibility.