A Road Map to Paper-Based Microfluidics Towards Affordable Disease Detection

Abstract

Microfluidic technology (µF) is an approach in managing very small volumes of fluids through patterned tiny channels. The present chapter focuses on the importance of designing microfluidic systems, their capabilities, and their applications. As microfluidic diagnostics are complex and unaffordable, paper-based microfluidic technology has become viable for low-cost disease diagnosis. The branch of microfluidics that manages very small amounts of fluids through capillary action and are made of paper and porous materials are termed paper-based microfluidics (PBM). This review chapter mainly illustrates the significance of PBM devices and their capabilities, applications, and advantages over microfluidics. Diagnostic applications in the detection of chronic diseases, cancer, dengue, glucose, and tuberculosis with µF and µPAD are also reviewed to the finest level in this review. In the current scenario, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things have become an integral part of every technology. Integration of µF and µPAD with IoT and AI aids to produce better design considerations, which are also covered in this review.