title: Laser-based patterning for fluidic devices in nitrocellulose.
abstract: In this report, we demonstrate a simple and low cost method that can be reproducibly used for fabrication of microfluidic devices in nitrocellulose. The fluidic patterns are created via a laser-based direct-write technique that induces polymerisation of a photo-polymer previously impregnated in the nitrocellulose. The resulting structures form hydrophobic barriers that extend through the thickness of the nitrocellulose and define an interconnected hydrophilic fluidic-flow pattern. Our experimental results show that using this method it is possible to achieve microfluidic channels with lateral dimensions of ∼100 μm using hydrophobic barriers that form the channel walls with dimensions of ∼60 μm; both of these values are considerably smaller than those that can be achieved with other current techniques used in the fabrication of nitrocellulose-based fluidic devices. A simple grid patterned nitrocellulose device was then used for the detection of C-reactive protein via a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, which served as a useful proof-of-principle experiment.
authors.affiliation: Optoelectronics Research Centre, University of Southampton , Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Peijun J W
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8043-4735
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Optoelectronics Research Centre, University of Southampton , Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Ioannis N
authors.initials: IN
authors.lastname: Katis
authors.affiliation: Optoelectronics Research Centre, University of Southampton , Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Eason
authors.affiliation: Optoelectronics Research Centre, University of Southampton , Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Collin L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Sones