A Roll-to-Roll (R2R) Manufacturing Facility for High-Throughput Fabrication of Paper Digital Microfluidic Devices

我们建议开发便携式微流体分析工具，分别在越南和加拿大的弱势群体中对母亲和新生儿进行产前和产后传染病（先天性风疹综合征）和先天疾病（胎儿酒精谱）筛查。这些方法依赖于“数字微流体”，这些建议利用我们最近的创新，允许通过在纸上喷墨打印的超低成本制造数字微流体装置。我们提交了这个非循环NSERC RTI申请，作为最近获得的2015年E.W.R. Steacie奖学金的一部分，用于组装定制的卷对卷（R2R）制造设备，用于高通量微流体器件制造。建议的工作分为三类：(i)分析方法开发，（ii）制造方法开发和表征，以及（iii）吞吐量，均匀性和规模的表征。对于(1)我们将完善指定的检测方法（风疹感染监测和胎儿酒精谱系障碍筛查）并在现场实施（这需要使用数千台经过验证的设备）。对于（ii），我们将组装一个开槽染料辊沉积系统来制造纸质DMF设备，通过AFM， SEM和接触角测量来表征。对于（iii），我们将建立严格的质量控制框架，其中每个设备的电气特性记录到制造后生成的条形码中。这项工作将使加拿大成为高通量纸质数字微流体装置制造的国际领导者。用于现场应用的便携式纸质数字微流体测试的最终目标是一个重要的目标，这将有助于改善加拿大和世界各地的健康结果。

We propose to develop portable microfluidic analysis tools for pre-term and post-term screening of mothers and neonates for infectious diseases (congenital rubella syndrome) and inborn disorders (fetal alcohol spectrum) in vulnerable populations in Viet Nam and Canada, respectively. These methods rely on "digital microfluidics" and the proposals leverage our recent innovation that allows for ultra-low-cost fabrication of digital microfluidic devices by inkjet printing on paper. We submit this off-cycle NSERC RTI application as part of a recently awarded 2015 E.W.R. Steacie Fellowship to assemble a custom Roll-to-Roll (R2R) manufacturing facility for high-throughput microfluidic device fabrication. The proposed work breaks into three categories: (i) analytical method development, (ii) manufacturing method development and characterization, and (iii) characterization of throughput, uniformity, and scale. For (i) we will refine the designated assays (for rubella infection surveillance and for fetal alcohol spectrum disorder screening) and implement them in the field (which requires access to thousands of validated devices). For (ii), we will assemble a slotted dye-roller deposition system to fabricate paper DMF devices, characterized by AFM, SEM, and contact angle measurements. For (iii), we will establish a rigorous quality control framework in which electrical characterization of each device is logged into bar-codes generated post-manufacture. This work will establish Canada as the international leader in high-throughput fabrication of paper digital microfluidic devices. The ultimate goal of portable, paper digital microfluidic tests for field-applications is an important one, which will contribute to improved health outcomes in Canada and around the world.