Wood microfluidics carve out a niche

Proof-of-concept microfluidic devices have been made out of birch plywood. A laser cutter engraved channels in wood, which were then coated in polymer to counter wicking. When used for protein detection by surface plasmon coupled fluorescence enhancement, such a device performed as well as or better than a plastic counterpart. And another wooden device allowed for rapid detection of microbial cells so could be used for food safety. According to the researchers behind the devices, they are a step towards cost-effective and environmentally friendly methods for rapid protein protection for various diagnostic and therapeutic applications.