Electrospun nitrocellulose membrane for immunochromatographic test strip with high sensitivity

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Traditional nitrocellulose membranes in immunochromatography test (ICT) strips face sensitivity limitations for target detection.
• Developing sensitive, portable, and disposable point-of-care biosensors is crucial for detecting various biomarkers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an economical, portable, and reliable paper biosensor for detecting viruses, bacteria, and proteins.
• To enhance the sensitivity of ICT strips by utilizing electrospun nitrocellulose (ENC) fiber membranes for early pregnancy detection.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of ICT strips using electrospun nitrocellulose (ENC) fiber membranes with controlled fiber diameters.
• Optimization of membrane pore size, porosity, and morphology to achieve low flow rate and high protein loading.
• Development of a colorimetric method for the sensitive determination of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).

Main Results:

• The ENC-based ICT strips exhibited a low detection limit of 10 mIU/mL for hCG (S/N=3).
• A linear detection range of 5-1000 mIU/mL was established with high linearity (R²=0.9802).
• The developed test strips demonstrated good specificity and stability, with no false-positive results.

Conclusions:

• Electrospun nitrocellulose (ENC) fiber membranes significantly improve the sensitivity and performance of ICT strips.
• This novel approach enables the development of convenient and sensitive point-of-care diagnostic tools.
• The enhanced ICT strips show promise for early pregnancy detection and potentially other diagnostic applications.