Royal Society of Chemistry, RSC Advances, 71(4), p. 37637-37644, 2014
DOI: 10.1039/c4ra07112c
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This paper describes the development and use of a handheld and lightweight stamp for the production of microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (µPADs). We also chemically modified the paper surface for improved colorimetric measurements. The design of the microfluidic structure has been patterned in a stamp, machined in stainless steel. Prior to stamping, the paper surface was oxidized to promote the conversion of hydroxyl into aldehyde groups, which were then chemically activated for covalent coupling of enzymes. Then, a filter paper sheet was impregnated in paraffin and sandwiched with a native paper (n-paper) sheet, previously oxidized. The metal stamp was preheated at 150 ºC and then brought in contact with the paraffined paper (p-paper) to enable the thermal transfer of the paraffin to the n-paper, thus forming the hydrophobic barriers under the application of a pressure of ca. 0.1 MPa during 2 s. The channel and barrier widths measured in 50 independent µPADs exhibited values of 2.6 ± 0.1 and 1.4 ± 0.1 mm, respectively. The chemical modification for covalent coupling of enzymes on the paper surface also led to improvements on the colour uniformity generated inside the sensing area, a known bottleneck in this technology. The relative standard deviation (RSD) values for glucose and uric acid (UA) assays decreased from 40 to 10% and from 20 to 8%, respectively. Bioassays related to the detection of glucose, UA, bovine serum albumin (BSA), and nitrite were successfully performed in concentration ranges useful for clinical assays. The semi-quantitative analysis of all four analytes in artificial urine samples revealed an error smaller than 4%. The disposability of µPADs, the low instrumental requirements of the stamp-based fabrication, and the improved colour uniformity enable the use of the proposed devices for the point-of-care diagnostics or in limited resources settlements.