Liposome dehydration on nitrocellulose and its application in a biotin immunoassay

The feasibility of utilizing dehydrated liposomes in the development of a simple immunoassay device for point-of-care diagnostics or field assays was demonstrated. The recovery of liposomes after a cycle of dehydration and rehydration was studied using biotin-tagged, dye-loaded liposomes with antibiotin antibodies immobilized in a defined zone on nitrocellulose strips. Liposomes were vacuum-dehydrated on the strip at a location below the antibiotin zone. The strip was placed in a tube containing a carrier solution and capillary action brought the solution to the dehydrated liposomes, rehydrated them, and caused them to migrate to the antibody zone where intact liposomes were captured and measured optically. High concentrations of either trehalose or sucrose external to the liposomes and both polyvinylpyrrolidone and gelatin in the membrane blocking reagent were essential for preservation of the dehydrated/rehydrated liposomes on nitrocellulose. Between 70 and 80% of the liposomes were recovered on the nitrocellulose strips after a cycle of dehydration and rehydration. The dehydrated liposomes on the strips were stable for at least 1 year when stored in vacuum-sealed plastic bags at 4 degrees C. The technique was successfully applied to the development of a rapid one-step strip immunoassay for biotin.