Facile patterning of microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (μPADs) by dispensing propylene glycol methyl ether acetate (PGMEA)

Facile patterning of microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (μPADs) is highly intriguing for researchers using μPADs for point-of-care diagnostics. For the first time, this work introduces the use of propylene glycol methyl ether acetate (PGMEA) as a novel material to create barriers on μPADs,...

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Main Authors: Xionghui Li, Xuanying Liang, Haonan Li, Jing Song, Kanghui Li, Muyang Zhang, Huiru Zhang, Zhuoting Han, Lok Ting Chu, Weijin Guo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Sensors and Actuators Reports
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666053925000414
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author Xionghui Li
Xuanying Liang
Haonan Li
Jing Song
Kanghui Li
Muyang Zhang
Huiru Zhang
Zhuoting Han
Lok Ting Chu
Weijin Guo
author_facet Xionghui Li
Xuanying Liang
Haonan Li
Jing Song
Kanghui Li
Muyang Zhang
Huiru Zhang
Zhuoting Han
Lok Ting Chu
Weijin Guo
author_sort Xionghui Li
collection DOAJ
description Facile patterning of microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (μPADs) is highly intriguing for researchers using μPADs for point-of-care diagnostics. For the first time, this work introduces the use of propylene glycol methyl ether acetate (PGMEA) as a novel material to create barriers on μPADs, with the formation mechanism of these barriers investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A digitized and automated dispensing machine is employed for barrier creation, demonstrating the stability of the barriers in the presence of various organic and aqueous solvents including alkaline and acidic solutions, and surfactants. Additionally, we explore the possibility of rapid patterning of μPADs by hand drawing using PGMEA. The stability of the barriers created by PGMEA lays a solid foundation for various biomedical and chemical analyses. Moreover, we use this method to prepare μPADs for quantitative measurement of iodate content in saline solutions and blood typing analysis successfully, proving that μPADs prepared by this method have a significant potential for applications in point-of-care diagnostics.
format Article
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institution OA Journals
issn 2666-0539
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Sensors and Actuators Reports
spelling doaj-art-7730d6c6239144c7b51f5967a03c606a2025-08-20T02:16:29ZengElsevierSensors and Actuators Reports2666-05392025-06-01910032310.1016/j.snr.2025.100323Facile patterning of microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (μPADs) by dispensing propylene glycol methyl ether acetate (PGMEA)Xionghui Li0Xuanying Liang1Haonan Li2Jing Song3Kanghui Li4Muyang Zhang5Huiru Zhang6Zhuoting Han7Lok Ting Chu8Weijin Guo9Department of Biomedical Engineering, Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong, ChinaDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong, ChinaDepartment of Electrical Engineering, Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong, ChinaDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong, ChinaDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong, ChinaDepartment of Electrical Engineering, Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong, ChinaGuangdong Foshan Lianchuang Graduate School of Engineering, Foshan, Guangdong, ChinaLaboratory Medicine Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, ChinaInstitute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, ChinaDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong, China; Corresponding author at: Biomedical Engineering, Shantou University, 243 Daxue Road, Shantou, Guangdong 515063, China.Facile patterning of microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (μPADs) is highly intriguing for researchers using μPADs for point-of-care diagnostics. For the first time, this work introduces the use of propylene glycol methyl ether acetate (PGMEA) as a novel material to create barriers on μPADs, with the formation mechanism of these barriers investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A digitized and automated dispensing machine is employed for barrier creation, demonstrating the stability of the barriers in the presence of various organic and aqueous solvents including alkaline and acidic solutions, and surfactants. Additionally, we explore the possibility of rapid patterning of μPADs by hand drawing using PGMEA. The stability of the barriers created by PGMEA lays a solid foundation for various biomedical and chemical analyses. Moreover, we use this method to prepare μPADs for quantitative measurement of iodate content in saline solutions and blood typing analysis successfully, proving that μPADs prepared by this method have a significant potential for applications in point-of-care diagnostics.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666053925000414μPADsPGMEAPaper microfluidicsIodate detectionBlood typing
spellingShingle Xionghui Li
Xuanying Liang
Haonan Li
Jing Song
Kanghui Li
Muyang Zhang
Huiru Zhang
Zhuoting Han
Lok Ting Chu
Weijin Guo
Facile patterning of microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (μPADs) by dispensing propylene glycol methyl ether acetate (PGMEA)
Sensors and Actuators Reports
μPADs
PGMEA
Paper microfluidics
Iodate detection
Blood typing
title Facile patterning of microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (μPADs) by dispensing propylene glycol methyl ether acetate (PGMEA)
title_full Facile patterning of microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (μPADs) by dispensing propylene glycol methyl ether acetate (PGMEA)
title_fullStr Facile patterning of microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (μPADs) by dispensing propylene glycol methyl ether acetate (PGMEA)
title_full_unstemmed Facile patterning of microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (μPADs) by dispensing propylene glycol methyl ether acetate (PGMEA)
title_short Facile patterning of microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (μPADs) by dispensing propylene glycol methyl ether acetate (PGMEA)
title_sort facile patterning of microfluidic paper based analytical devices μpads by dispensing propylene glycol methyl ether acetate pgmea
topic μPADs
PGMEA
Paper microfluidics
Iodate detection
Blood typing
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666053925000414
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