Development and characterization of novel substrates for biosensing applications

The research plan herein described integrates the rational design, development, optimization, and application of novel biosensors to contribute to the scientific community. Specifically, the projects focuses on two main factors including being cost-effective when compared to bulky and expensive benchtop instruments and having improved analytical performance over other related biosensors. In accordance, paper analytical devices were thoroughly investigated. Microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (µPADs) are a rather new analytical tool, being in existence for less than a decade. Utilizing a paper platform, µPADs are inexpensive, portable, require small sample volumes, and are user-friendly. The research plan consists of three projects with a common theme of utilizing a paper substrate. The first section of the research strategy focuses on selecting the optimal paper type to fabricate µPADs. Next, nanotechnology was incorporated into µPADs to improve the analytical performance in the detection of three clinically-relevant analytes. After successfully exploring colorimetric detection on paper devices, the focus was then moved to a more advantageous detection method. A novel multilayer paper device was designed and optimized for the electrochemical detection of different clinically-relevant analytes. The research portfolio closes with a promising four-zone electrochemical paper-on-paper device that can be multiplexed for simultaneous detection of different analytes simply by the flip of a switch.