Tailored ionic liquids for microfluidic paper-based analytical devices: boosting colorimetric performance for enzymatic glucose assays via cellulose surface modification

Abstract

Ionic liquids were used as modifiers for the surface of paper, exploring their physicochemical properties to enhance hydroxyl availability and promote stronger interactions with chromogens for colorimetric assays. Paper microfluidic devices with modified surfaces were successfully tested for glucose assays, revealing enhanced colorimetric performance with a lower color gradient (20 ± 3%) and improved analytical reliability.