ABSTRACT
In 2008, the Whitesides group pioneered the use of microfluidic paper-based analytical devices, Two Dimension and three Dimension paper-based structures that enable colorimetric assays with multiplexing capability. Critical to the automated operation of multistep paper-based assays is a set of paper fluidic tools, that is, analogs to the pump controls and valves of conventional microfluidics, to perform the desired manipulation of fluids within the network. This chapter discusses a set of the paper fluidic tools that have been developed, including controls for flow rate, on-switches for flow, and off-switches for flow. The strength Two Dimensional Paper Network is its ability to automatically perform multistep processes for increased performance while still maintaining the advantages of conventional lateral flow tests, namely, a rapid time to result, ease of use, and low cost. The overall challenge in point-of-care diagnostics development continues to be to create high performance assays that are appropriate for the various multi constraint settings relevant for global health applications.
