Paper-based technologies: Biosensors and electronics.

Paper is light, flexible, inexpensive, biodegradable, and is made from abundantly available materials such as plants and non-pathogenic bacteria found on fruits. As a result, it is a useful substrate for many applications in diagnostics and electronics. Two independent research groups have now shown that paper can be given optical properties for biosensing applications, and can be turned into invisible electronics for anti-theft applications in art and packaging materials.