Filter Paper based Micromixer using Wax Crayon as Channel Barriers

Abstract

Miniaturized devices that utilize the fluidic properties of analytes at the microscopic scale, popularly known as microfluidic devices, have significant advantages over systems of a larger scale. Analysis of samples can be done using much lower sample, reagent and chemical volumes. Further, the portable nature as well as low power requirement of these devices makes them appropriate for point of care testing or infield testing. Paper has shown great potential for similar analytical devices due to its widespread availability, low costs and flexibility. Present article is an attempt to fabricate low-cost paper-based microfluidic mixers using different channel barrier materials and validating efficacy of a cost-effective crayon wax as barrier over low graded filter papers. Results showed that crayon wax coated filter papers proved to be highly effective in confining several fluids available in common household items using a low graded economical filter paper. Further, micromixers were also developed and successfully demonstrated proving an efficacy of the above technique in realizing low-cost point-of-care analytical device for household purposes.