Lab-on-Paper Devices for Diagnosis of Human Diseases Using Urine Samples—A Review

Abstract

In recent years, microfluidic lab-on-paper devices have emerged as a rapid and low-cost alternative to traditional laboratory tests. Additionally, they were widely considered as a promising solution for point-of-care testing (POCT) at home or regions that lack medical infrastructure and resources. This review describes important advances in microfluidic lab-on-paper diagnostics for human health monitoring and disease diagnosis over the past five years. The review commenced by explaining the choice of paper, fabrication methods, and detection techniques to realize microfluidic lab-on-paper devices. Then, the sample pretreatment procedure used to improve the detection performance of lab-on-paper devices was introduced. Furthermore, an in-depth review of lab-on-paper devices for disease measurement based on an analysis of urine samples was presented. The review concludes with the potential challenges that the future development of commercial microfluidic lab-on-paper platforms for human disease detection would face.

Environmentally Friendly and Biodegradable Components for Biosensors

“…Several attempts were reported to use biodegradable materials for biochemical sensing components. A paper and bio-cellulose (BC) substrates were proposed for biosensor researches, such as for electro-optical biosensor for herbicide monitoring [18], for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) sensor [14], [19], [20], microfluidic paper for human urine screening [21], electrochemical sensors [22], potentiometric ion sensing [23], colorimetric paper-based biosensors for the detection spike protein SARS-CoV-2 [24].…”

Simultaneous colorimetric detection of nephrolithiasis biomarkers using a microfluidic paper-based analytical device

“…Accordingly, a microfluidic paper-based analytical device (μPAD) providing key advantages of cost-effectiveness, simplicity, compatibility with small volume of sample and reagents, reliability, portability and disposability has attracted considerable attention to be used as a diagnostic platform for determination of the biomarkers. 26,27…”

“…Accordingly, a microuidic paper-based analytical device (mPAD) providing key advantages of cost-effectiveness, simplicity, compatibility with small volume of sample and reagents, reliability, portability and disposability has attracted considerable attention to be used as a diagnostic platform for determination of the biomarkers. 26,27 mPADs coupled with colorimetric detection have been reported for oxalate, 28 UA 29 and citrate 30 detections. A chemical reaction using titanium trichloride 31 and an enzymatic assay using oxalate decarboxylase 28 were applied for colorimetric detection of oxalate on PADs.…”

Microfluidic Sliding Paper-Based Device for Point-of-Care Determination of Albumin-to-Creatine Ratio in Human Urine

“…CKD is generally diagnosed through blood and urine tests. Human urine consists of around 95% water and a large number of smaller constituents, such as uric acid, ALB, CRE, sodium, potassium, ammonia, nitrogen, magnesium, and others [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]. Urine may also include precipitates of calcium, phosphorus, and other compound crystals [ 9 ].…”