This study proposed a novel method for the rapid fabrication of paper-based microfluidic devices using a roll-to-roll wax transfer method. In this approach, a custom-made device was designed and fabricated for the direct roll-to-roll wax transfer from commercially available wax ribbon to the surface of paper substrate. After wax transfer, a thermal reflow process was conducted to enable the melt wax penetration through the whole thickness of the hydrophilic paper substrate to form hydrophobic wax barriers. Compared with the conventional approaches for paper-based microfluidics (wax printing, photolithography, and inkjet printing), the proposed fabrication technique for paper-based microfluidic devices is suitable for the batch fabrication of paper-based microfluidic chips at high production speed. Additional advantages including simple fabrication process, low material and fabrication cost, low-energy consumption, and without the requirement of cleanroom environment or facilities. The paper-based microfluidics fabricated with the proposed roll-to-roll wax transfer method is widely adaptable for microfluidic applications in biological and chemical fields.

这项研究提出了一种新的方法，用于使用卷对卷的蜡转移方法快速制造纸基微流控设备。在这种方法中，设计并制造了一种定制设备，用于将卷对卷的蜡直接从市售蜡带直接转移到纸质基材的表面。蜡转移后，进行热回流工艺以使熔融蜡穿透亲水性纸基材的整个厚度以形成疏水性蜡屏障。与用于纸基微流体的常规方法（蜡印刷，光刻和喷墨印刷）相比，所提出的用于纸基微流体装置的制造技术适用于以高生产速度批量制造纸基微流体芯片。其他优点包括简单的制造工艺，较低的材料和制造成本，较低的能耗以及无需洁净室环境或设施的要求。用提出的卷对卷蜡转移方法制造的纸基微流体可广泛适用于生物和化学领域中的微流体应用。