ABSTRACT
Good health care to the growing world population is a prime concern for all. Miniaturization of analytical instruments and drug delivery systems has gained importance in order to enable medical resources to reach the poorest of people and the remotest of places. Miniaturization of devices helps in reducing both the volume of analytes used per person and the quantity of materials used. However, disposal of these small-scaled devices is not easy and reuse is also very difficult, unlike those used with bulk analytes. The possibility of recycling and reusing microfluidic device is explored here, by understanding the wetting properties of materials associated with these devices. Two methods will be discussed in detail with respect to (1) changing the properties of substrates and (2) altering the surface tension of the concerned liquids.
