Biodegradable PLA nonwoven fabric-based microfluidic devices

Polymer and paper-based microfluidics have been widely used in biological and medical research. In this study, a new alternative material is proposed for the fabrication of microfluidic devices: biodegradable PLA (poly-lactic acid) nonwoven fabrics. Compared to polymer sheets and films, nonwoven fabric material is even more low-cost, flexible, and easy to process. Compared to paper-based microfluidics, nonwoven fabric material is mechanically more robust and provides a wider choice of chemical/physical properties with a cost in the same range. PLA nonwoven fabric is plant-sourced, which has a much lower carbon footprint in the fabrication of nonwoven fabric material compared to other petrochemical-sourced polymers. Due to the hydrophobic properties of PLA nonwoven fabric material, a layer of PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) was deposited and patterned on the surface of the PLA nonwoven fabric to enable fluid self-driven and fluid path control. For the demonstration of the proposed fabrication technique for PLA nonwoven fabric-based microfluidic devices, a microfluidic device for the testing of polyphenol in tea was also fabricated. The proposed fabrication method for PLA nonwoven fabric-based microfluidic devices could have wide application potential in chemical and point-of-care testing as an alternative to polymer or paper-based microfluidics.