A low-cost and simple paper-based microfluidic device for simultaneous multiplex determination of different types of chemical contaminants in food

It is difficult to carry out multiple detection of different type of chemicals because of the different chemical microenvironment requirements. Herein, a low-cost and simple paper-based microfluidic device integrated with fluorescence labeled single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) functionalized graphene oxide sensor was developed for the multiplex determination of different types of chemical contaminants in food. In this work, Cy5 labeled corresponding functional ssDNA for different analytes associated with graphene oxide (ssDNA-GO) were employed as core detection sensors to sensitively report the presence of the different type of chemicals as well as enlarge the chemical compatibility, which made it possible to simultaneous detect multiple chemicals under a same chemical microenvironment. Paper microfluidic device can be easily fabricated and paper substrate also facilitated the integration of ssDNA-GO sensors via physical absorption. This device has been successfully applied in multiplex detection of heavy metal mercury (II) ion (Hg2+) and silver (I) ion (Ag+) and aminoglycoside antibiotics residues in food. It also provided enormous potential for applications of environmental monitoring and clinical diagnosis.