Creating fast flow channels in paper fluidic devices to control timing of sequential reactions.
This paper reports the development of a method to control the flow rate of fluids within paper-based microfluidic analytical devices. We demonstrate that by simply sandwiching paper channels between two flexible films, it is possible to accelerate the flow of water through paper by over 10-fold. The dynamics of this process are such that the height of the liquid is dependent on time to the power of 1/3. This dependence was validated using three different flexible films (with markedly different contact angles) and three different fluids (water and two silicon oils with different viscosities). These covered channels provide a low-cost method for controlling the flow rate of fluid in paper channels, and can be added following printing of reagents to control fluid flow in selected fluidic channels. Using this method, we redesigned a previously published bidirectional lateral flow pesticide sensor to allow more rapid detection of pesticides while eliminating the need to run the assay in two stages. The sensor is fabricated with sol-gel entrapped reagents (indoxyl acetate in a substrate zone and acetylcholinesterase, AChE, in a sensing zone) present in an uncovered "slow" flow channel, with a second, covered "fast" channel used to transport pesticide samples to the sensing region through a simple paper-flap valve. In this manner, pesticides reach the sensing region first to allow preincubation, followed by delivery of the substrate to generate a colorimetric signal. This format results in a uni-directional device that detects the presence of pesticides two times faster than the original bidirectional sensors.
Department of Chemical Engineering, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8S 4M1, Canada.
Sana
S
Jahanshahi-Anbuhi
Puneet
P
Chavan
Clémence
C
Sicard
Vincent
V
Leung
S M Zakir
SM
Hossain
Robert
R
Pelton
John D
JD
Brennan
Carlos D M
CD
Filipe
D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004593:Electrophorus; D029941:Fish Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D007211:Indoles / Q000737:chemistry; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010755:Organophosphates / Q000032:analysis*; D010209:Paper; D010575:Pesticides / Q000032:analysis*; D013997:Time Factors
D029941:Fish Proteins; D007211:Indoles; D010755:Organophosphates; D010575:Pesticides; C053640:indoxyl acetate; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase