Manipulation of Fluid Flow Direction in Microfluidic Paper-Based Analytical Devices with an Ionogel Negative Passive Pump

Abstract

Microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (microPADs) are a relatively new group of analytical tools thatrepresent an innovative low-cost platform technology for fluid handling and analysis. Nonetheless, microPADs lack in the effective handling and controlling of fluids, which leads to a main drawback for their reproducibility in large volumes during manufacturing, their transition from the laboratory into the marketand thus accessibility by end-users. Herein we investigate the applicability of ionogel materials basedon a poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) gel with the 1-ethyl 3-methylimidazolium ethyl sulfate ionic liquidas fluid flow manipulator in microPADs using the ionogel as a negative passive pump to control the flowdirection in the device. A big challenge undertook by this contribution is the integration of the ionogel materials into the microPADs. Finally, the characterisation and the performance of the ionogel as a negative passive pump is demonstrated.