Issue 13, 2013

Magnetic timing valves for fluid control in paper-based microfluidics

Abstract

Multi-step analytical tests, such as an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), require delivery of multiple fluids into a reaction zone and counting the incubation time at different steps. This paper presents a new type of paper-based magnetic valves that can count the time and turn on or off a fluidic flow accordingly, enabling timed fluid control in paper-based microfluidics. The timing capability of these valves is realized using a paper timing channel with an ionic resistor, which can detect the event of a solution flowing through the resistor and trigger an electromagnet (through a simple circuit) to open or close a paper cantilever valve. Based on this principle, we developed normally-open and normally-closed valves with a timing period up to 30.3 ± 2.1 min (sufficient for an ELISA on paper-based platforms). Using the normally-open valve, we performed an enzyme-based colorimetric reaction commonly used for signal readout of ELISAs, which requires a timed delivery of an enzyme substrate to a reaction zone. This design adds a new fluid-control component to the tool set for developing paper-based microfluidic devices, and has the potential to improve the user-friendliness of these devices.

Graphical abstract: Magnetic timing valves for fluid control in paper-based microfluidics

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
02 Jan 2013
Accepted
18 Mar 2013
First published
18 Mar 2013

Lab Chip, 2013,13, 2609-2614

Magnetic timing valves for fluid control in paper-based microfluidics

X. Li, P. Zwanenburg and X. Liu, Lab Chip, 2013, 13, 2609 DOI: 10.1039/C3LC00006K

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