Paper as a low-cost base material for diagnostic and environmental sensing applications

Abstract

Paper has been used as a chromatographic substrate and for indicator strips for a long time. Recently, a novel application using patterned paper to make microfluidic systems for diagnostic and environmental sensing has been developed. The patterned paper which can control liquid penetration within its hydrophilic channels has great potential to make low-cost and simple analytical devices for bioassays and environmental analysis. This article shows that basic papermaking and printing techniques can be applied to create paper-based microfluidic analytical devices. High volume and high speed printing processes hold the key for the transformation of the novel concept of paper-based microfluidic ..