Sensing of body fluid hormones using paper-based analytical devices

Paper has been used for testing analytes since the advent of litmus paper. Also, the rapid growth of the human population in isolated areas of the world have engendered demand for testing and diagnostic methods that are not only easy to transport, but also have a low cost of fabrication and rapid results. Hormones are crucial biomarkers which can be used to detect certain physiological conditions. These hormones, present in non-invasive and invasive body fluids, hold major potential for detection using paper-based devices. This review paper aims to highlight the advancements in the creation of paper-based microfluidic devices to detect hormones in different body fluids. It exhaustively explains the current methods of detection for hormones in various body fluids like sweat, saliva and serum using paper-based microfluidic devices and the role of these devices in the future in terms of rapid detection, low cost, and ease of transport. By demonstrating the mechanisms of these devices, this paper shows a promising unconventional avenue for efficient hormone detection.