In an effort to improve the utility and effectiveness of microfluidic paper-based analytic devices (microPADs), reagent pencils were developed. The straightforward methodology of reagent pencils is advantageous in its allowance for rapid solvent-free deposition of reagents, longer reagent shelf life stored in a solid matrix, and lack of specialized equipment. Poly(ethylene glycol) was found as the most reliable and versatile polymer to incorporate into reagent pencils. PEG/graphite systems were tested for its wear resistance and colorimetric signal strength at different molecular weights. In general, the hardness of PEG/graphite systems used for reagent pencils can be customized by varying the diameter of the pencil core or changing the molecular weight of PEG itself. A new parameter was devised correlating wear to reagent deposition. It was determined that lower molecular weight PEG deposited more reagent onto microPADs than systems that incorporated higher molecular weight PEG. In the future, this parameter may be used as a comparison tool between different, more sensitive reagents. Reagent pencils provide a more facile method of preparing low-cost diagnostic assays that can be delivered to a point of care out in the field.

Characterization of reagent pencils for solvent-free deposition of reagents onto paper-based diagnostic device

251st National Meeting (2016)

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