Multiplexed colorimetric assay of antioxidants in wines with paper-based sensors fabricated by pen plotting

This work reports the development of low-cost and rapid multiplexed colorimetric assay of antioxidants (total phenolics, antioxidant capacity, flavonoids and anthocyanins) in wines at daisy-shaped fluidic paper-based analytical devices (PADs). The desired fluidic patterns were formed on paper by pen drawing and colorimetric reagents were immobilized at the 6 peripheral test zones. The sample was added at the central sample zone, migrated to the test zones and reacted with the immobilized reagents producing characteristic colors that were captured and analyzed. The paper-based approach was applied to the analysis of several wine samples and the results were statistically correlated to standard solution-based colorimetric assays, indicating that it could be reliably used for ranking wines according to their antioxidants content. In addition, the paper-based analytical methodology is simple, instrument-free, portable, cost-effective, rapid and environment friendly.