Enhancing the lateral-flow immunoassay for viral detection using an aqueous two-phase micellar system

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Nanotechnology
• Biophysics

Background:

• Point-of-care (POC) diagnostics are vital for infectious disease management.
• Lateral-flow assays (LFAs) offer rapid, user-friendly pathogen detection but often lack sensitivity.
• Improving LFA sensitivity is crucial for effective pandemic outbreak prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate an aqueous two-phase micellar system for concentrating target agents prior to LFA detection.
• To enhance the sensitivity of LFAs for detecting viral pathogens.

Main Methods:

• Utilized an aqueous two-phase micellar system with Triton X-114.
• Concentrated a model virus, bacteriophage M13 (M13), in the micelle-poor phase.
• Manipulated the volume ratio of the micellar phases to optimize concentration.

Main Results:

• Achieved a tenfold improvement in M13 detection limit, from 5 × 10^8 pfu/mL to 5 × 10^7 pfu/mL.
• Demonstrated the effectiveness of micellar concentration for enhancing LFA sensitivity.
• Showcased the potential for further optimization by manipulating phase volume ratios.

Conclusions:

• Aqueous two-phase micellar systems can significantly improve LFA sensitivity.
• This method offers a practical approach to enhance POC diagnostic capabilities for viral detection.
• Further research can refine the technique for even lower detection limits of pandemic pathogens.