Paper-Based Microfluidic Devices For Forensic Sciences: Development And Validation Of Innovative Tools

Laboratory analyses usually require sophisticated equipment and skilled personnel. However, very often, the use of simplified procedures and techniques in various working conditions can prove useful in solving several problems. Forensic applications represent an emblematic example of this requirement to simplify and solve various difficulties. Legal medicine requires both highly sophisticated techniques to solve analytical problems and simple techniques with fast procedures that allow analyses to be carried out outside the laboratory, in remote areas by unqualified personnel. The implementation of paper-based microfluidic analytical devices (PADs) for legal medicine presents an opportunity to tackle all the aforementioned limitations and requirements in the field of forensic science. It is also important to note that little to no sample preparation is required, with the ability to use many samples directly onto the PADs for the analysis of the desired analyte. PADs are very inexpensive to produce and can