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Electrochemical techniques are commonly applied to micro total analysis system (µTAS) devices mainly due to its high sensitivity and miniaturization capacity. Among many electrochemical techniques, capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection (C4 D) stands out for not requiring direct electrode-solution contact, avoiding several problems such as electrolysis, bubble formation, and metal degradation. Furthermore, the instrumentation required for C4 D measurements is compact, low cost, and easy to use, allowing in situ measurements to be performed even by nonspecialized personal. Contrarily, the production of metallic electrodes and microchannels adequate for C4 D measurements commonly requires specialized facilities and workers, increasing the costs of applying these methods. We propose alternatives to batch manufacture metallic electrodes and polymeric microchannels for C4 D analysis using more straightforward equipment and lower-cost materials. Three devices with different dielectric layer compositions and electrode sizes were tested and compared regarding their analytical performance. The constructed platforms have shown a reduction of more than 64% in cost when compared to traditional techniques and displayed good linearity (R2 ≥ 0.994), reproducibility (RSD ≤ 4.07%, n = 3), and limits of detection (≤0.26 mmol/L) when measuring standard NaCl samples. Therefore, the proposed methods were successfully validated and are available for further C4 D applications such as diagnosis of dry-eye syndrome.

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The oxidation of paper by periodate was investigated and systematically characterized by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, goniometry, and dynamic mechanical analysis. For the first time, in situ FTIR microscopy analysis was performed, yielding chemical images of carbonyl groups on the cellulose fibers. The enhancement of protein immobilization on oxidized paper was quantified by a colorimetric assay with Ponceau dye, demonstrating that 0.5-h oxidation suffices to functionalize the paper-based devices. The oxidized paper was applied as a sensor for protein quantification in urine, a test able to detect levels of proteinuria and even microalbuminuria. The quantification was based on the capture of proteins through covalent bonds formed with the carbonyl groups on the oxidized paper followed by the staining of the region with Ponceau dye. There is a linear dependency between human serum albumin (HSA) concentration and the length of the stained blot from 0.1 to 3 mg mL-1. This method correlated linearly with a reference method showing a higher sensitivity (0.866 cm mL mg-1) than the latter. The limit of quantification was 0.1 mg mL-1, three times lower than that of the commercial strip. Graphical abstract Paper oxidation with periodate and extensive characterization, including microspectroscopy. The conversion of cellulose hydroxyl groups to aldehyde enhances covalent immobilization of protein on paper for application as analytical device. The oxidized paper determined protein in urine, suitable for proteinuria diagnosis.

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ABSTRACT Paper-based devices present low-cost and are versatile, making them very attractive for clinical analysis. To manufacture those devices wax patterns are printed on paper surface and upon heating the wax permeates through the entire thickness of the paper, creating hydrophobic barriers that delimit test areas. Antibodies produced in rabbits against canine distemper virus (CDV) were physically adsorbed on the surface of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and incubated with CDV viral antigens, forming the immunocomplex. Anti-CDV antibodies were immobilized into the microchannels by physical adsorption, forming the test region. The test solution containing conjugated AuNPs was applied at the bottom of the microchannel and it was eluted with a phosphate buffer solution 0.01 M pH 7.4. When the solution containing the AuNPs reached the test zone the recognition of antigens contained on the immunocomplex occurred with the consequent development of a red line, which represents a positive outcome for the test. This method demonstrated the success of physical immobilization of antibodies on AuNPs and the physical immobilization of antibodies on cellulose's surface. This colorimetric assay brings simplicity and versatility to clinical analyses, presenting potential for CDV diagnosis.

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This communication describes a simple and cost-effective method for fabricating glass microchannels by wet chemical etching using masks made by xurography in vinyl adhesive films. Analytical performance of microfluidic devices fabricated using the new approach was evaluated by microchip electrophoresis coupled to capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection (C(4)D) and laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection.

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This communication reports a promising platform for rapid, simple, direct, and ultrasensitive determination of serotonin. The method is related to integration of vertically aligned single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) in electrochemical microfluidic devices. The required microfabrication protocol is simple and fast. In addition, the nanomaterial influenced remarkably the obtained limit-of-detection (LOD) values. Our system achieved a LOD of 0.2 nmol L(-1) for serotonin, to the best of our knowledge one of the lowest values reported in the literature.

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This communication describes a new procedure to increase the sensitivity of C(4)D in PDMS/glass microchips. The method consists in doping the insulating layer (PDMS) over the electrodes with nanoparticles of TiO(2), increasing thus its dielectric constant. The experimental protocol is simple, inexpensive, and fast.

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In this report, we describe a rapid and reliable process to bond channels fabricated in glass substrates. Glass channels were fabricated by photolithography and wet chemical etching. The resulting channels were bonded against another glass plate containing a 50-microm thick PDMS layer. This same PDMS layer was also used to provide the electrical insulation of planar electrodes to carry out capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection. The analytical performance of the proposed device was shown by using both LIF and capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection systems. Efficiency around 47,000 plates/m was achieved with good chip-to-chip repeatability and satisfactory long-term stability of EOF. The RSD for the EOF measured in three different devices was ca. 7%. For a chip-to-chip comparison, the RSD values for migration time, electrophoretic current and peak area were below 10%. With the proposed approach, a single chip can be fabricated in less than 30 min including patterning, etching and sealing steps. This fabrication process is faster and easier than the thermal bonding process. Besides, the proposed method does not require high temperatures and provides excellent day-to-day and device-to-device repeatability.

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