Paper-Based Microfluidic Devices for the Detection of DNA

Abstract

Microfluidic paper-based analytical devices are an attractive tool for point of care diagnostics as they facilitate fast detection without the need for any sophisticated instrumentation and skilled professional. These devices are disposable, portable, and affordable; hence, they are utilized in almost all the diagnostic domains for carrying out the detection. There are various aspects associated with the paper-based devices, namely working principle, reaction mechanism, fabrication schemes (2D/3D), detection sensitivity, and readout mechanism. Over the period, continuous progress is envisioned in all these domains to enhance the sensitivity of the detection and several variants, namely miniaturization, the inclusion of nanoparticles, multi-functionalization, etc. are also explored to make the detection more efficient. This chapter provides a state of the art review of the various aspects of paper-based microfluidic devices, including their fabrication scheme, sensing methodology, and their several applications in DNA detection domain. Also, advantages, disadvantages, and future aspects of these devices are also discussed.