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                            Funding & Awards
 Paper microfluidic systems for rapid and inexpensive presumptive detection of drugs and explosives
Award Information
Awardee
              The Florida International University
Award #
              2012-DN-BX-K048
Funding Category
              Competitive
Location
                    Miami, FL
Awardee County
              Miami-Dade
Congressional District
              26
Status
              Closed
Funding First Awarded
              2012
Total funding (to date)
              $180,224
Original Solicitation
              NIJ FY 12 Applied Research and Development in Forensic Science for Criminal Justice Purposes
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2012, $180,224)
The goal of this proposal is to develop and validate a paper microfluidic device for the presumptive detection of explosives. Paper microfluidics is a transformational technology that permits the development of very inexpensive analytical devices based on designs printed in wax-based ink on chromatography paper. The wax channels in the paper direct the liquid samples toward individual sections of the paper containing colorimetric test reagents. With proper design, a single device can perform five or more simultaneous analyses while costing only pennies, since the basic design componentschromatography paper, wax, and small quantities of reagentsare all very inexpensive. The paper devices are easily stored for long-term performance and because of their low cost could revolutionize on-site forensic testing. In this proposal we seek funds to develop paper microfluidic devices based on colorimetric spot tests for forensic explosives analysis. Colorimetric tests might include Greiss and diphenylamine reagents for organic and inorganic nitrates, p-DMAC for urea nitrate, and ammonium titanyl oxalate for peroxides and other similar procedures. Once proof-of-concept is confirmed using a variety of colorimetric spot test reagents, we will validate the procedure using tests for sensitivity, pre and post blast residues and potential interferences. Overall, the development of this paper-based sensor will provide police and forensic evidence collection teams an easily-stored and reliable tool for presumptive testing of unknown evidence. Sheets of these paper devices could be easily and cheaply manufactured and take up no more space than a package of cigarette papers. Their low cost and easy portability would mean that every analyst and crime scene response team member could carry a kit capable of instant identification of unknown or hazardous compounds. ca/ncf



  
Grant-Funded Publications
        
                      Success Story: Enabling Forensic Field Testing With Paper Microfluidic Devices
                  Simultaneous colorimetric detection of metallic salts contained in low explosives residue using a microfluidic paper-based analytical device (μPAD)
                  Simultaneous colorimetric detection of improvised explosive compounds using microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (μPADs)
                  Coupling Paper-Based Microfluidics and Lab on a Chip Technologies for Confirmatory Analysis of Trinitro Aromatic Explosives

  
Date Created: August 22, 2012
    
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