Controlled release of dry reagents in porous media for tunable temporal and spatial distribution upon rehydration

Abstract

Novel methods are demonstrated that enable controlled spatial and temporal rehydration of dried reagents in a porous matrix. These methods can be used in paper-based microfluidic assays to define reagent concentrations over time at zones downstream for improved performance, and can reduce costs by simplifying the manufacturing process with the use of a single porous substrate. First, the creation of uniform reagent pulses from patterned arrays of dried reagent is demonstrated. Second, reagents are stored dry in separate regions of the porous matrix so that they can be combined upon rehydration for immediate use in the device. Third, reagents are reconstituted sequentially from dry storage depots with tunable delivery times. Fourth, the total time for dissolution is varied to achieve a range of reagent delivery times to a downstream region. Finally, the utility of these control methods is demonstrated in the context of real-time reagent rehydration and mixing on a porous device.