Paper-Based Microfluidic Platform for Biomedical Applications

Abstract

The development of rapid medical diagnostic and biosensor devices is increasing due to the emergence of new diseases in the present and upcoming future. In this dissertation, the development of simple and cost-effective paper-based microfluidic devices are discussed. First, the paper-based microfluidic chip equipped with colorimetric reverse-transcriptase loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) and smartphone optical sensing was developed for Zika virus detection. The assay time of our developed device was 15 minutes with a limit of detection of 1 virus copy/µL. Second, the paper-based liver cell model with physiologically relevant flow device was developed. The toxicity of three commercially available drugs, Phenacetin, Bupropion, and Dextromethorphan, and its combination with Fluconazole (an antifungal drug) were investigated. Drug toxicity effects could be observed as early as 40 minutes on our developed device. Third, we developed a paper-based in vitro tissue model comprising a standalone device capable of delivering two types of mechanical stimuli (i.e., shear flow and local compression). The device was fabricated cost effectively through 3D-printing, with an overall device cost of ~$50. This developed device was utilized to investigate the effects of various mechanical stimuli on vascular endothelial cell migration. Cell migration on our paper-based chip was observed as early as 5 hours. Lastly, the traditional methods of providing mechanical simulation to OOC systems and future directions of their development were discussed and suggested. These developed devices show a promising capability of transferring laboratory diagnostic assays to field-based assays that are easy-to-use, rapid, cost-effective, and accessible and affordable to the general public. Such developments aim to improve the quality of healthcare systems and public health.