Method for Fabricating Microfluidic Devices on Porous Substrates

A method for fabricating microfluidic devices on porous substrate is disclosed herein. A hydrophobic toner material is deposited onto a porous substrate in a predetermined pattern wherein the porous substrate can be a compatible material for fabricating a microfluidic device. The porous substrate deposited with hydrophobic toner material is treated using a thermal treatment process for complete permeation of at least one hydrophobic polymer from the toner material across the thickness of the porous substrate resulting in at least one fluid impervious barrier patterned on the said substrate. Furthermore, at least one additional toner material layer can be deposited on the top/bottom or both surface of the patterned substrate for encapsulation of the microfluidic device with hydrophobic toner material to achieve a leak-proof device. The porous substrate deposited with additional toner material layer can be treated using a mild thermal treatment process for ensuring leak-proof settings by lateral permeation of the hydrophobic polymers. The manufacturing of microfluidic devices described herein can be broadly used for one or more analytical applications involving fluid confinement, flow, mixing and reactions.