At-Home Microscale Paper-Based Quantitative Analysis Activity with External Standards

Abstract

An inexpensive at-home quantitative analysis activity was developed for the determination of glucose in unknown samples using paper-based microfluidic devices. All of the materials and reagents for the activity fit in a small kit that was mailed to students. The only items students needed to supply were water and a smartphone. Microgram quantities of glucose were dried down in microcentrifuge tubes and included in the kit so that students could prepare external standards. Student results distinguished between two different concentrations of glucose that served as unknown samples. The combination of paper-based devices and dried-down microgram quantities of reagents provides a foundation for the development of other at-home or in-person experiments.

Design and Evaluation of the BeArS@home and Slugs@home Choose-Your-Own-Adventure-Style Online Laboratory Experiments

“…Intrinsically, the experiment websites did not provide students with hands-on experience. For fully remote laboratory courses, supplementing with at-home hands-on experiments involving kitchen chemistry (examples: refs and − ) or home laboratory kits (examples: refs − ) is a possible solution. Difficulties in collaboration between students was another clear disadvantage of online laboratory courses.…”

The air-gap PAD: a roll-to-roll-compatible fabrication method for paper microfluidics

“…Microfluidic paper analytical devices, or μPADs, are a promising platform for point-of-use testing because of their low cost, portability, rapid results, and ease of use. A landmark article by the Whitesides group in 2007 1 sparked an explosion of research interest in μPADs for applications as far-reaching as environmental monitoring, 2-5 chemical education, [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] pharmaceutical screening, [15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22] and point-ofcare diagnostics. [23][24][25] Despite the large number of published academic articles on μPADs, however, very few μPADs have made it out of the academic laboratory and into the real world.…”

Iron Quantification in Dietary Supplements using Four Colorimetric Assays

“…In 2020, Kovarik et al reviewed laboratory experiments carried out using digital images obtained using smartphones, desktop scanners, and webcams. Since then, several new laboratory experiments involving digital images have been published. − …”