Fabricating Cotton Analytical Devices.
A robust, low-cost analytical device should be user-friendly, rapid, and affordable. Such devices should also be able to operate with scarce samples and provide information for follow-up treatment. Here, we demonstrate the development of a cotton-based urinalysis (i.e., nitrite, total protein, and urobilinogen assays) analytical device that employs a lateral flow-based format, and is inexpensive, easily fabricated, rapid, and can be used to conduct multiple tests without cross-contamination worries. Cotton is composed of cellulose fibers with natural absorptive properties that can be leveraged for flow-based analysis. The simple but elegant fabrication process of our cotton-based analytical device is described in this study. The arrangement of the cotton structure and test pad takes advantage of the hydrophobicity and absorptive strength of each material. Because of these physical characteristics, colorimetric results can persistently adhere to the test pad. This device enables physicians to receive clinical information in a timely manner and shows great potential as a tool for early intervention.
Institute of Nanoengineering and Microsystems, National Tsing Hua University.
Shang-Chi
SC
Lin
Department of Ophthalmology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital.
Min-Yen
MY
Hsu
Institute of Nanoengineering and Microsystems, National Tsing Hua University.
Chen-Meng
CM
Kuan
Department of Engineering and System Science, National Tsing Hua University.
Fan-Gang
FG
Tseng
Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University; chaomin@mx.nthu.edu.tw.
Chao-Min
CM
Cheng
Annu Rev Biomed Eng. 2008;10:107-44
18358075
Lab Chip. 2012 Jun 21;12(12):2118-34
22344520
Clin Transl Sci. 2008 Dec;1(3):200-8
19212447
Electrophoresis. 2009 May;30(9):1497-500
19340829
Anal Bioanal Chem. 2010 Jan;396(1):495-501
19838826
Sci Rep. 2014 Nov 13;4:6976
25393975
Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2007;46(8):1318-20
17211899
Anal Chem. 2012 Jan 17;84(2):487-515
22221172
Ann Emerg Med. 1987 Nov;16(11):1231-5
3662182
Biomicrofluidics. 2011 Mar 14;5:14105
21483659
Arch Pathol Lab Med. 1989 Jan;113(1):73-6
2642693
Lab Chip. 2015 Jun 7;15(11):2357-63
25923964
Biomaterials. 2014 Apr;35(12):3729-35
24484673