Novel design of micropump based on multi-angle paper-based capillary approach for enhanced and well-controlled flow rates

Abstract

Paper-capillary micropumps are advantageous as they are small in size, cost-effective, and easily disposable. However, capillary-based micropumps fabricated using the photolithography technique prevent exchanging of the pumping element. The liquid movement in paper-based micropumps is also difficult to control and manipulate as compared to non-paper-based micropumps. Therefore, in this study, the performance of a multi-angle paper-based capillary micropump that utilizes both hydrostatic and paper-capillary effects with a detachable paper matrix is presented. The design offers enhanced and controllable flow rates based on paper matrix types and platform inclination angles. In addition, the paper matrix pumping element does not involve in the analytical processes but rather only for fluid driving. Standalone operation shows a working range of flow rate comparable to some purely capillary- and hydrostatic-based micropumps reported in the literature. The proposed micropump shows that the flow rate is linearly increasing based on the types of capillary papers and platform inclination angles, giving a flow rate range of 2.3 μL/s ≤  $\overline{Q}$  ≤ 2.44 µL/s.