RUI: Evaporation-driven Capillary Flow in Paper-Based Microfluidic Devices

PI：Martinez，AnresProposal编号：1605499拟议研究的目标是研究microPADS(一种特殊类型的试纸，可用于在没有复杂硬件的领域的生物相关诊断中用于分析目的的流体)中的毛细血管流动。建议与普林斯顿大学的研究人员合作开发这一过程的模型。拟议的工作重点是通过纸基微流控器件(MicroPADs)的蒸发驱动毛细管流(ECF)的实验研究和建模，以利用这种类型的流体传输来开发能够执行自动多步骤分析的纸基诊断设备。这项拟议的工作将导致研究具有无限和有限流体储集层的微型PADs中的ECF；调查microPAD的设计对ECF的影响；开发描述MicroPADs中ECF的数学模型，并将这些模型应用于设计和开发用于进行自动多步骤诊断分析的原型MicroPADs，包括酶抑制分析和具有信号放大的免疫层析分析。所有的实验工作都将由本科生使用相对简单的材料和制作方法进行。拟议的工作还将有助于促进对ECF的总体理解，并对其他系统，如植物和基于塑料的微流体装置产生影响。使用原型诊断设备的工作将阐明开发更复杂的医疗保健点诊断分析的机制，这些分析仍然非常易于使用。最后，该项目将能够开发需要至少两个定时顺序步骤的新的分析，而这在以前是不可能的，因为目前微型PAD的能力有限。

PI: Martinez, AndresProposal Number: 1605499The goal of the proposed research is to study fluid flow through the capillaries in microPADS (a special type of paper that can be used for analytic purposes in bio-related diagnostics in areas where complex hardware is not available.) A model for the process is proposed to be developed in collaboration with researchers at Princeton University.The proposed work focuses on the experimental study and modeling of evaporation-driven capillary flow (ECF) through paper-based microfluidic devices (microPADs) in order to use this type of fluid transport for the development of paper-based diagnostic devices capable of performing automated multi-step assays. The proposed work will result in an investigation of ECF in microPADs with infinite and finite fluid reservoirs; an investigation of the effects of the design of the microPAD on ECF; the development of mathematical models to describe ECF in microPADs, and the application of these models toward the design and development of prototype microPADs for conducting automated multi-step diagnostic assays, including an enzyme inhibition assay and an immuno-chromatographic assay with signal amplification. All the experimental work will be conducted by undergraduate student using relatively simple materials and fabrication methods. The proposed work will also serve to advance the general understanding of ECF, with implications for other systems such as plants and plasticbased microfluidic devices. The work with prototype diagnostic devices will elucidate mechanisms for developing more sophisticated point-of-care diagnostic assays that are still very simple to use. Finally, the project will enable the development of new assays that require at least two, timed, sequential steps, and that were previously not possible due to limitations with the current capabilities of microPADs.