Printed digital microfluidic devices methods of use and manufacture thereof

A digital microfluidic device comprising:

• a porous substrate having a surface adapted to support electrodes thereon, said porous substrate comprising:
• a porous layer formed from a fibrous material;
• and
• a barrier layer provided on said porous layer, wherein said barrier layer is formed from a barrier material suitable for the formation of electrodes thereon;
• an array of digital microfluidic electrodes printed on said porous substrate;
• and
• a dielectric layer coating said array of digital microfluidic electrodes, wherein a surface of said dielectric layer is hydrophobic;
• wherein a surface roughness of said barrier layer is less than 1 micron, such that said array of digital microfluidic electrodes are suitable for transporting droplets among said digital microfluidic electrodes under electrical actuation, further wherein said barrier layer is a first barrier layer, and said porous layer is a hydrophilic layer, and said porous substrate further comprises a second barrier layer below said hydrophilic layer.