title: Paper - a potential platform in pharmaceutical development.
abstract: Paper is predominantly composed of cellulose fibers that have an inherent ability to wick fluids by capillary action; it provides an interesting diagnostic platform that is inexpensive, easily obtained, and eco-friendly. Paper has been used in various types of biologically relevant applications including paper-based molecular assays, paper-based ELISA (P-ELISA), paper-based nucleic acid assays, and paper-based cell assays. Based on recent successes with the use of paper as a platform, we contend that paper is not only very suitable for diagnostics but could provide a more advantageous platform than current plastics-based platforms for drug discovery, and would be useful for accomplishing in vitro pre-compound screening steps while offering a possible solution to several economic obstacles inherent in the pharmaceutical industry.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nanoengineering and Microsystems, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan; Pharmacokinetic Technology Department, Center of Excellence for Drug Development, Biomedical Technology and Device Research Laboratories, Industrial Technology Research Institute, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yi-Hsun
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nanoengineering and Microsystems, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan; Pharmacodynamics Technology Department, Center of Excellence for Drug Development, Biomedical Technology and Device Research Laboratories, Industrial Technology Research Institute, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Zong-Keng
authors.initials: ZK
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nanoengineering and Microsystems, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan. Electronic address: chaomin@mx.nthu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Chao-Min
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D055808:Drug Discovery; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000379:methods*; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques; D010209:Paper
keywords: bioassay; clinically based diagnostics in hospital; diagnostics; paper-based microfluidic device; point-of-care diagnostics; translational medicine