Skip to main content
Log in

Novel concept of washing for microfluidic paper-based analytical devices based on capillary force of paper substrates

  • Rapid Communication
  • Published:
Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A novel washing technique for microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (μPADs) that is based on the spontaneous capillary action of paper and eliminates unbound antigen and antibody in a sandwich immunoassay is reported. Liquids can flow through a porous medium (such as paper) in the absence of external pressure as a result of capillary action. Uniform results were achieved when washing a paper substrate in a PDMS holder which was integrated with a cartridge absorber acting as a porous medium. Our study demonstrated that applying this washing technique would allow μPADs to become the least expensive microfluidic device platform with high reproducibility and sensitivity. In a model μPAD assay that utilized this novel washing technique, C-reactive protein (CRP) was detected with a limit of detection (LOD) of 5 μg mL−1.

A novel washing technique for microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (μPADs) that is based on the spontaneous capillary action of paper and eliminates unbound antigen and antibody in a sandwich immunoassay is reported

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2a–d
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Mohammadi S, Maeki M, Mohamadi RM, Ishida A, Tani H, Tokeshi M. An instrument-free, screen-printed paper microfluidic device that enables bio and chemical sensing. Analyst. 2015;140(19):6493–9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Busa LSA, Maeki M, Ishida A, Tani H, Tokeshi M. Simple and sensitive colorimetric assay system for horseradish peroxidase using microfluidic paper-based devices. Sens Actuators B. 2016;236:433–41.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Masoodi R, Pillai KM. Darcy’s law-based model for wicking in paper-like swelling porous media. AICHE J. 2010;56(9):2257–67.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Carson FT. A sensitive instrument for measuring the air permeability of paper and other sheet materials. J Res Natl Bur Stand. 1934;12(5):567–85.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Pal Lokendra JMK, Fleming PD. A simple method for calculation of the permeability coefficient of porous media. TAPPI J. 2006;5(9):10–6.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Martinez AW, Phillips ST, Butte MJ, Whitesides GM. Patterned paper as a platform for inexpensive, low-volume portable bioassays. Angew Chem Int Ed. 2007;46(8):1318–20.

  7. Liu H, Xiang Y, Lu Y, Crooks RM. Aptamer-based origami paper analytical device for electrochemical detection of adenosine. Angew Chem Int Ed. 2012;51(28):6925–8.

  8. Liu H, Crooks RM. Three-dimensional paper microfluidic devices assembled using the principles of origami. J Am Chem Soc. 2011;133(44):17564–6.

  9. Ge L, Wang S, Song X, Ge S, Yu J. 3D Origami-based multifunction-integrated immunodevice: low-cost and multiplexed sandwich chemiluminescence immunoassay on microfluidic paper-based analytical device. Lab Chip. 2012;12(17):3150–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Wang S, Ge L, Song X, Yu J, Ge S, Huang J, et al. Paper-based chemiluminescence ELISA: lab-on-paper based on chitosan modified paper device and wax-screen-printing. Biosens Bioelectron. 2012;31(1):212–8.

  11. Yetisen AK, Akram MS, Lowe CR. Paper-based microfluidic point-of-care diagnostic devices. Lab Chip. 2013;13(12):2210–51.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Liang J, Wang Y, Liu B. Paper-based fluoroimmunoassay for rapid and sensitive detection of antigen. RSC Adv. 2012;2(9):3878–84.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Posthuma-Trumpie GA, Korf J, Van Amerongen A. Lateral flow (immuno)assay: its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. A literature survey. Anal Bioanal Chem. 2009;393(2):569–82.

  14. Kaur R, Dikshit KL, Raje M. Optimization of immunogold labeling TEM: an ELISA-based method for evaluation of blocking agents for quantitative detection of antigen. J Histochem Cytochem. 2002;50(6):863–73.

  15. Schonhorn JE, Fernandes SC, Rajaratnam A, Deraney RN, Rolland JP, Mace CR. A device architecture for three-dimensional, patterned paper immunoassays. Lab Chip. 2014;14(24):4653–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Zang D, Ge L, Yan M, Song X, Yu J. Electrochemical immunoassay on a 3D microfluidic paper-based device. Chem Commun. 2012;48(39):4683–5.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Ikami M, Kawakami A, Kakuta M, Okamoto Y, Kaji N, Tokeshi M, et al. Immuno-pillar chip: a new platform for rapid and easy-to-use immunoassay. Lab Chip. 2010;10(24):3335–40.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research was partially supported by the Urakami Foundation for Food and Food Culture Promotion.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Manabu Tokeshi.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

ESM 1

(PDF 1084 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Mohammadi, S., Busa, L.S.A., Maeki, M. et al. Novel concept of washing for microfluidic paper-based analytical devices based on capillary force of paper substrates. Anal Bioanal Chem 408, 7559–7563 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-016-9853-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-016-9853-9

Keywords

Navigation