Recent advances in microfluidics-based paper analytical devices (µPADs) for biochemical sensors: From fabrication to detection techniques

Abstract

In recent times, paper-based devices have been widely used in biotechnology due to their high impact and prominence as point-of-care-testing devices. These introduce innovativeness in bioanalyte handling and analysis using microfluidic technology due to its inexpensive, effortless fabrication and transparency in real sample testing on a minuscule platform. As a promising potential, these find applications in most fields such as healthcare, food, agriculture, environment, and energy harvesting. Due to rapid growth and interest in biomedical diagnostics, paper devices bridge existing research gaps, predominantly in functional ease of use, constancy, suitable fabrication tool, and real sample detection. This review discusses recent developments in µPADs from fabrication to detection highlighting challenges using SWOT analysis. This endeavors to present a section-wise comprehensive review of the proposed field highlighting several fabrication techniques available to date with their respective benefits and shortcomings, various detection methods, difficulties, and the future rising applications of μPADs. Finally, discussions were included on how this field desires to continue moving forward with broad imminent directions to realize its full potential in an eco-friendly manner.