InterPore2026

Low-Cost Paper-Based Lab-on-Chip: Creating Hydrophobic Barriers using Common Materials for Microfluidic Uses

21 May 2026, 10:05

1h 30m

Poster Presentation (MS09) Pore-Scale Physics and Modeling Poster

Speaker

Mr Shantanu Banerjee (Research Scholar(M. Tech.), Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU) Varanasi, Varanasi, India)

Description

Although microfluidic lab-on-a-chip devices have revolutionised analytical chemistry and point-of-care diagnostics, their availability is restricted by high manufacturing costs and specialized equipment, especially in environments with limited resources. This work presents a novel, ultra-low-cost approach to creating functional microfluidic channels on porous paper substrates using readily available household materials as hydrophobic barrier agents.
By using inexpensive materials to form hydrophobic barriers on filter paper substrate and precisely define microfluidic channels inside the porous media, we were able to produce paper-based microfluidic devices. The fabrication process is very accessible for widespread adoption because it doesn't require expensive equipment or cleanroom facilities. Comprehensive characterization was performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to analyze surface morphology and barrier formation, along with porosity measurements of both treated hydrophobic regions and bare filter paper.
Our results demonstrate excellent hydrophobic barrier formation with well-defined channel boundaries and superior fluid flow characteristics. Controlled capillary-driven flow was made possible by the uniform coating morphology and notable hydrophilic and hydrophobic region differences found by SEM investigation. Despite their inexpensive cost of manufacture, the devices demonstrated impressive flow rates appropriate for analytical uses while retaining strong hydrophobic barriers. The material cost per device is several orders of magnitude lower than conventional PDMS-based microfluidics.
This platform addresses critical needs in affordable diagnostics and analytical chemistry. Because of its demonstrated ability, extremely cheap fabrication cost, and simple methodology, this technology is positioned as a viable choice for point-of-care testing in resource-constrained environments. Computational fluid dynamics modeling is planned to optimize channel geometry and flow characteristics for specific applications.