Abstract
Current centralised healthcare models pose many challenges, particularly for developing countries such as South Africa, where travel and time costs make it difficult for patients to seek healthcare, even when urgently needed. To address this issue, point-of-care (PoC) tests, which are performed at or near the site of clinical care, have gained popularity and are actively being developed. Microfluidic systems, in which small volumes of fluids can be processed, provide an ideal platform on which to develop PoC diagnostic solutions. Specifically, the emerging field of paper-based microfluidics, with advantages such as low-cost, disposability and minimal external equipment requirements, provides unique opportunities for addressing healthcare issues in developing countries. This work explores the field of paper-based microfluidics, with step-by-step instructions on the design, manufacture and testing processes to realise paper-based devices towards diagnostic applications. Paper-based microfluidic and electronic components are presented, as well as the integration of these components to provide smart paper-based devices. This serves as an educational tool, enabling both beginners and experts in the field to fast-track development of unique paper-based solutions towards PoC diagnostics, with emphasis on the South African context, where both the need for and impact of these solutions are great.
Highlights
The need to move away from a centralised healthcare system to one which is more home/patient based is becoming more urgent.[1]
Point-of-care (PoC) tests are laboratory diagnostic assays performed at or near the site where clinical care is delivered and may be used in both a first world laboratory and the most remote corner of the developing world. These tests have the ability to overcome many of the disadvantages of centralised testing facilities because they are low-cost, provide faster test results, and negate the need for samples/patients to be transported over long distances
Printed electronics[19] have received significant recent attention for the ability to enhance diagnostic device functionality without compromising the attractive features of paperbased microfluidics. Combining smart biosensors such as these with the simplicity, port ability, disposability and low-cost multiplex analysis of microfluidic paper test devices, allows for the rapid high sensitivity analysis and realtime monitoring required from PoC diagnostics
Summary
The need to move away from a centralised healthcare system to one which is more home/patient based is becoming more urgent.[1]. Point-of-care (PoC) tests are laboratory diagnostic assays performed at or near the site where clinical care is delivered and may be used in both a first world laboratory and the most remote corner of the developing world In the latter case, these tests have the ability to overcome many of the disadvantages of centralised testing facilities because they are low-cost, provide faster test results, and negate the need for samples/patients to be transported over long distances. Printed electronics[19] have received significant recent attention for the ability to enhance diagnostic device functionality without compromising the attractive features of paperbased microfluidics Combining smart biosensors such as these with the simplicity, port ability, disposability and low-cost multiplex analysis of microfluidic paper test devices, allows for the rapid high sensitivity analysis and realtime monitoring required from PoC diagnostics. An important intention is to create awareness and promote conversations that will further the applications of this field, and augment their impact on the world
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