Microfluidic Toner-Based Analytical Devices: Disposable, Lightweight, and Portable Platforms for Point-of-Care Diagnostics with Colorimetric Detection

Abstract

This chapter describes the development of microfluidic toner-based analytical devices (μTADs) to perform clinical diagnostics using a scanner or cell-phone camera. μTADs have been produced in a platform composed of polyester and toner by the direct-printing technology (DPT) in a matter of minutes. This technology offers simplicity and versatility, and it does not require any sophisticated instrumentation. Toner-based devices integrate the current generation of disposable analytical devices along paper-based chips. The cost of one μTAD has been estimated to be lower than $0.10. In addition, these platforms are lightweight and portable thus enabling their use for point-of-care applications. In the last 5 years, great efforts have been dedicated to spread out the use of μTADs in bioassays. The current chapter reports the fabrication of printed microplates and integrated microfluidic toner-based devices for dengue diagnostics and rapid colorimetric assays with clinically relevant analytes including cholesterol, triglycerides, total proteins, and glucose. The use of μTADs associated with cell-phone camera may contribute to the health care, in special, to people housed in developing regions or with limited access to clinics and hospitals.

Paper-based analytical devices for clinical diagnosis: recent advances in the fabrication techniques and sensing mechanisms

“…The microfluidic devices prepared using laser printing process have shown great potential for various clinical assays including dengue diagnosis [68], detection and quantification of glucose in biological samples [69], and PCR amplification of DNA [70]. A toner-based microfluidic device was demonstrated to accurately perform simultaneous detection and quantification of multiple analytes including total proteins, glucose, cholesterol, and triglycerides in biological fluids [71]. …”

A Milled Microdevice to Advance Glia-Mediated Therapies in the Adult Nervous System

“…Microfluidic systems used for neuroglia applications remain surprisingly scarce despite their ability to facilitate characterization of glia responses to customized biomaterials [29], pharmacological compounds [30], and electro-chemical fields currently being explored to aid neurorepair [31]. While a slower adaptation of microsystems may be attributed to the high costs associated with clean room facilities [32] and/or the perceived need for engineering expertise to design and troubleshoot complex systems [33], the rising availability of fabrication techniques such as 3D printing/rapid prototyping [34], paper microfluidics [35,36], and toner or inkjet printing [37,38] have greatly reduced the barriers to entry in the usage of larger microscale tools (reviewed in [39]). These synergies now enable biomedical researchers to generate microsystems customized for glia-based research.…”