Industrial Consultancy & Sponsored Research (IC&SR) , IIT Madras
Ductile Barrier Material For Eco-disposable Microfluidic Device And Method Of Fabrication Thereof
Technology Category/Market
Category- Micro & Nano Technologies
Industry Classification:
Medical Devices and Diagnostics; Biotechnology and Laboratory Equipment; Environmental Monitoring and Testing
Applications:
Rapid, affordable, and user-friendly fabrication of eco-disposable microfluidic devices for Point-of-Care Diagnostics; Environmental Monitoring; Food Safety and Quality Control; Forensic Science: Clinical and Biomedical Applications
Market report:
The global paper diagnostics industry was valued at USD 14,966 million in 2023 and is projected to grow to USD 22,455 million by 2030 with a CAGR 6%.
Problem Statement
- Paper microfluidics-based point-of-care diagnosis devices (Pμ-POC) have gained significant attention in the diagnostic field due to their “ASSURED” (affordable, sensitive, specific, user-friendly, and rapid, equipment-free, delivered to those in need)” nature.
- Conventional fabrication techniques capable of retaining surfactants and organic solvents — such as photolithography or inkjet printing — are often costly, technically complex, toxic, and require specialized equipment and skilled personnel.
- Conversely, simpler, toxic free and more affordable barrier materials—such as wax crayons, correction pens, and commercial laser-printed hydrophobic layers frequently fail to retain analytes when exposed to organic solvents or surfactants.
- There is a need for a barrier material and fabrication method that offers superior chemical retention, simplicity, toxic free and cost-efficiency while addressing limitations of conventional methods.
Technology
- A rapid, affordable, and eco-friendly method for fabricating paper-based microfluidic devices (P-µFDs) using oil pastel/oil-wax barriers that are thermally resilient, ductile, and hydrophobic—effectively retaining diverse chemicals, including organic solvents and surfactants.
- Free-hand drawing of barrier channels on Grade 1 Whatman filter paper using oil pastels, followed by 1 minute of heating on a hot plate (60 °C) or low flame, forming robust and chemical-resistant microchannels.
- Heating: 1 min at low flame or hot plate (60 °C); Fabrication Cost: <$0.006 per device; Compatible with a wide range of chemicals, including alcohols, surfactants, organic solvents, and various body fluids.
- Hydrophobic with water contact angle of 149° ± 1° (oil pastel) and 113° ± 2° (oil-wax mixture) . Chemical Retention is superior to wax/wax crayon barriers, preventing leakage of ethanol, SDS, and toluene
- Suitable for diagnostics (e.g., glucose assay), environmental monitoring, and education – requiring no specialized equipment or skilled labor, making it ideal for resource-limited settings.
Key Features/Value Proposition
- The technology utilizes heated oil pastel/oil-wax mixture as a barrier, offering thermally resilient, ductile/flexible, and hydrophobic properties that effectively retain chemicals, including challenging substances like ethanol, SDS, and organic solvents.
- Devices are fabricated using free-hand drawing on filter paper and minimal heating (1 minute), costing <$0.006 per device. This makes it highly affordable and accessible compared to existing techniques.
- Unlike wax or wax crayon barriers, oil pastel/oil-wax mixture barriers withstand chemicals like toluene, surfactants, and alcohols without leakage, providing enhanced versatility for microfluidic applications.
- The materials used are non-toxic, widely available, and environmentally safe, unlike some conventional methods that involve toxic chemicals or specialized equipment.
Questions about this Technology?
Contact for Licensing
Research Lab
Prof. Sarit Kumar Das
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Intellectual Property
- IITM IDF Ref 2799
- IN 202441043226 Patent Application
Technology Readiness Level
TRL 4
Technology validated in Lab