讲座主题：Laser-patterned paper-based microfluidics for affordable point-of-care testing

专家姓名：Collin Sones

工作单位：University of Southampton

讲座时间：2026年08月13日 10:15-11:00

讲座地点：烟台大学主校区化学馆北322室

主办单位：烟台大学化学化工学院

内容摘要：

This work reports on the development and use of our laser-based, direct-write technique, which uses a visible laser (c.w., operating at 405nm) and a cheap off-the-shelf light-sensitive polymer to create in paper and paper-like porous materials, fluidic devices that enable rapid measurement of targeted analytes for disease diagnosis.

Because of the need for providing timely clinical decision-making, which assists early diagnosis and patient-specific treatment that in turn leads to improved health outcomes, there is always a significant interest in the development of newer diagnostic testing solutions. Point-of-care (POC) testing that happens by a patient’s bedside and provides rapid results is critical for improved disease triaging or diagnosis and monitoring.

Paper because of its low-cost nature and the inherent ability to transport liquids by capillary action presents itself as a promising alternative platform substrate to develop fluidics based POC diagnostic solutions for affordable and rapid testing and prompt decision-making in scarcely resourced settings.

This talk will present an overview of the development of a laser-based, direct-write technique which uses a visible continuous-wave laser (Cobolt 06 MLD, operating at 405nm) and a cheap off-the-shelf light-sensitive polymer to create fluidic devices in porous (paper and paper-like) substrates including cellulose paper (Whatman Grade 1), nitrocellulose membrane (UniSart CN95) and more recently, biodegradable, optically transparent cellophane. The fluid-flow pathways (i.e., the walls that help contain and transport a liquid sample within the fluidic-device) are defined by laser-induced polymerisation of a light-sensitive polymer previously deposited in a user-defined pattern on the substrate.

We will also present the use of the same additive manufacturing methodology in either improving the performance (lower limit-of-detection) or adding functionality (multiplexed or semi-quantitative measurement) to the now well-used and commercially available paper-based biosensor - a lateral flow test (LFT) or a lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA). Through the inclusion of specifically designed flow geometries including parallel flow paths with or without constricted zones in a LFT/LFIA, we have demonstrated both multiplexed and semi-quantitative detection of biomarkers (CRP, SAA1, PCT etc.) that indicate an underlying infection e.g., pneumonia, covid-19 etc.).

主讲人介绍：

Dr. Collin Sones is a Principal Research Fellow/Associate Professor at the Optoelectronics Research Centre of the University of Southampton. He has ＞20yrs of experience within the domain of laser-materials interactions and has contributed towards developing different laser-based micro-structuring or patterning techniques for various applications including integrated and non-linear optical devices.

More recently, his research and entrepreneurial focus has been towards the development of laser-based printing and patterning technologies, and his group has been responsible for some key achievements, particularly in the field of paper-based fluidics.

He has authored ＞180 academic contributions that include journal papers and conference proceedings, 4 institutional reports, and 1 book chapter, and has ＞2200 citations. He also has family of 4 patents (13 in total across Europe/US and other countries) which are related to their work on laser patterning for low-cost healthcare diagnostic applications, and these are being successfully exploited for a University of Southampton, spin-out, Highfield Diagnostics.