Degradable bioplastics for microfluidic diagnostic assays towards improved environmental and human health

PROJECT SUMMARY As POC diagnostics transitions towards mainstream use, it would be valuable to establish a credible and validated set of biodegradable materials to sustain future innovations in monolithic microfluidic devices, in order to reduce waste and curb the environmental impact of biomedical products. Bioplastics are an attractive biodegradable material for microfluidic diagnostics. In particular, bio-based materials made of plant byproducts are of interest due to their renewable material source to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Existing demonstrations of bioplastic microfluidics are limited; hence, despite the great potential of bioplastics for POC diagnostics, there is a need for accessible fabrication, demonstration for diagnostic methods, and appropriate degradability. Building on preliminary results with an accessible fabrication strategy, this proposal develops a novel material fabrication method and device assembly strategy which direct each component of the life cycle of a plastic microfluidic diagnostic device toward a more sustainable alternative to reduce the environmental impacts of plastics and safeguard human health.