Paper miniaturization via periodate oxidation of cellulose

Cellulose-based paper is a versatile material with a diverse array of applications. While paper is not commonly thought of as a material that shrinks, here we present a method for miniaturizing paper via periodate oxidation. Chromatography paper was exposed to varying concentrations of periodate (0.1–0.5 M) over a 96-h period. Following optimization of miniaturization parameters, fourteen different types of paper were miniaturized and reductions in surface area ranging from 60 to 80% were observed. All cellulose paper types, but not cellulose-derivatives, displayed successful miniaturization. Results were highly tunable dependent upon periodate concentration and reaction time. Potential applications of the technique are discussed, including its use as a microfabrication method.