Jeon Jaehyung, Choi Heeseon, Han Gyeo-Re, Ghosh Rajesh, Palanisamy Barath, Di Carlo Dino, Ozcan Aydogan, Park Sungsu
School of Mechanical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Suwon 16419, Korea.
Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States.
ACS Sens. 2025 May 23;10(5):3317-3339. doi: 10.1021/acssensors.5c00668. Epub 2025 May 15.
Microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (μPADs) are powerful tools for diagnostic and environmental monitoring. Being affordable and portable, μPADs enable rapid detection of small molecules, heavy metals, and biomolecules, thereby decentralizing diagnostics and expanding biosensor accessibility. However, the reliance on two-dimensional fluid flow restricts the utility of conventional μPADs, presenting challenges for applications that require simultaneous multibiomarker analysis from a single sample. Vertical flow paper-based analytical devices (VF-μPADs) overcome this challenge by allowing axial fluid movement through paper stacks, offering several advantages, including (1) enhanced multiplexing capabilities, (2) reduced hook effect for improved accuracy, and (3) shorter assay times. This review provides an overview of VF-μPADs technologies, exploring structural and functional performance trade-offs between VF-μPADs and conventional lateral flow systems. The sensing performance, fabrication methods, and applications in in vitro diagnostics and environmental monitoring are discussed. Furthermore, critical challenges─such as fabrication complexity, data analysis, and scalability─are addressed, along with proposed strategies for mitigating these barriers to facilitate broader adoption. By examining these strengths and challenges, this review presents the potential of VF-μPADs to advance point-of-care testing, particularly in resource-limited settings.
基于微流控纸的分析设备（μPADs）是用于诊断和环境监测的强大工具。μPADs价格实惠且便于携带，能够快速检测小分子、重金属和生物分子，从而实现诊断的去中心化并扩大生物传感器的可及性。然而，对二维流体流动的依赖限制了传统μPADs的实用性，给需要从单个样本同时进行多种生物标志物分析的应用带来了挑战。垂直流纸基分析设备（VF-μPADs）通过允许轴向流体在纸叠中移动克服了这一挑战，具有多个优点，包括（1）增强的多重检测能力，（2）减少钩状效应以提高准确性，以及（3）缩短检测时间。本综述概述了VF-μPADs技术，探讨了VF-μPADs与传统侧向流系统之间在结构和功能性能方面的权衡。讨论了其传感性能、制造方法以及在体外诊断和环境监测中的应用。此外，还解决了诸如制造复杂性、数据分析和可扩展性等关键挑战，以及为减轻这些障碍以促进更广泛应用而提出的策略。通过审视这些优势和挑战，本综述展示了VF-μPADs在推进即时检测方面的潜力，特别是在资源有限的环境中。
