Development of Paper-Based Microfluidic Biosensors for Medical Diagnostics

诊断生物标志物的准确检测对于疾病的控制和治疗是重要的。生物相关的微流体装置具有巨大的潜力，作为使能工具，改变医学诊断的实践，由于其明显的优势，用于生物分析。纸基微流控技术作为一个新兴的领域，在开发低成本、便携式诊断平台方面特别有前途。与传统的微流体装置不同，PMF装置通过毛细作用将流体分布在图案化的纸通道中，并且能够在有限的资源和基础设施下检测疾病标志物。目前，PMF技术的许多方面在很大程度上还没有得到充分的研究。本研究计划的长期研究目标是建立PMF研究的理论和技术框架，并将PMF技术推向诊断的实际应用，该研究计划旨在开发新型PMF生物传感器，以低成本，高通量检测临床相关的生物标志物。理论和技术创新将通过：（1）纸通道中毛细管流动的流体动力学建模，这将产生通用设计指南;（2）发明和/或开发新型流体控制组件和生物传感技术，以实现卓越的设备性能;（3）通过PMF大规模集成开发多功能，高度集成的生物传感器测定，用于高通量应用。该计划的一个独特贡献将是开发一种系统的PMF大规模集成方法，最终可能导致实现高密度PMF器件。本研究中开发的新知识、创新技术和首创的生物传感设备将显著推进PMF领域的最新技术水平，并为改善现有诊断系统（例如，就较低成本、较高吞吐量和较好的可访问性而言）。该研究计划还将为培养工程，生物技术和医学方面的高素质人才提供良好的多学科环境。

Accurate detection of diagnostic biomarkers is important to control and treatment of diseases. Biologically relevant microfluidic devices have enormous potential, as enabling tools, to change the practice of medical diagnostics, due to their apparent advantages for bioanalysis. Paper-based microfluidics (PMF), as an emerging field, is particularly promising for developing low-cost, portable diagnostic platforms. Different from conventional microfluidic devices, PMF devices distribute fluids in patterned paper channels by capillarity, and are capable of detecting disease markers with limited resources and infrastructures. Currently, many aspects of PMF technology are largely underexplored. With long-term research goals of building up a theoretical and technological framework for PMF research and advancing PMF technology towards practical use in diagnosis, this research program aims to develop novel PMF biosensors to target low-cost, high-throughput detection of clinically relevant biomarkers. Theoretical and technological innovations will be made through: (1) fluid dynamics modeling of capillary flows in paper channels, which will produce generic design guidelines; (2) invention and/or development of novel fluid-control components and biosensing techniques to enable excellent device performance; and (3) development of multifunctional, highly-integrated biosensor assays through PMF large-scale integration, for high-throughput applications. A unique contribution of this program will be the development of a systematic approach to PMF large-scale integration, which could eventually lead to the realization of high-density PMF devices. The new knowledge, innovative techniques, and first-of-their-kinds biosensing devices developed in this research will significantly advance the state of the art in the field of PMF, and provide promising solutions to the improvement of existing diagnostic systems (e.g., in terms of lower cost, higher throughput, and better accessibility). This research program will also offer an excellent multidisciplinary environment for training highly qualified personnel in engineering, biotechnology, and medicine.