Resumen:
Microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (mu PADs) are a relatively new group of analytical tools that represent an innovative low-cost platform technology for fluid handling and analysis. Nonetheless, mu PADs lack in the effective handling and controlling of fluids, which leads to a main drawback for their reproducibility in large volumes during manufacturing, their transition from the laboratory into the market and thus accessibility by end-users. Herein we investigate the applicability of ionogel materials based on a poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) gel with the 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethyl sulfate ionic liquid as fluid flow manipulator in mu PADs using the ionogel as a negative passive pump to control the flow direction in the device. A big challenge undertook by this contribution is the integration of the ionogel materials into the mu PADs. Finally, the characterisation and the performance of the ionogel as a negative passive pump is demonstrated. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
