Paper Electronics and Paper-Based Biosensors

Abstract

Traditionally, and still today, analytical procedures are usually performed at high quality laboratories with bench-top analyzers. However, researchers have been studying the possibility to produce portable and easy to use analytical devices that satisfy the needs of an analytical test such as sensitivity, selectivity and reproducibility. Few decades ago, biosensors appeared as new easy to use analytical devices that can detect a target analyte with high sensitivity and selectivity in few minutes. As a result, several strategies and designs were developed for biosensors construction and applications with the aim to improve their analytical characteristics. About a decade ago, paper have emerged as one of the most used material for easy and disposable microfluidic devices. The combination of paper microfluidics and biosensors technologies have produced many analytical devices that comprises the advantages of an ideal Point of Care and Point of Need device. In this chapter, we explore paper as a support material for single-use, disposable biosensing devices. Its relatively recent introduction as a biosensing platform has been stimulated by its cost-effective and environmentally-compatible properties. The rapidly growing bibliography of published research in this area has not been comprehensively reviewed in this Chapter. Instead, we have emphasized significant recent advances and achievements in paper fabrication (chemical, physical and biological modifications of fibers) and paper-based biosensors developed to be used in clinical, environmental and food fields. Further, we offer a perspective on new challenges and prospects in this field.