Detection of DNA using gold nanoparticle-coated silica nanoparticles

We report a sensitive lateral flow assay (LFA) in which the assay colour change originated from reporter labels constructed from silica spheres (radius = 450 nm) coated with approximately 3.9 × 10³ gold nanoparticles (radius = 8.5 nm). These reporter labels were modified with DNA and deposited in the conjugation area of an LFA device assembled on wax-patterned Fusion 5 paper. Test and control zones of the device were pre-loaded with capture probe formed by avidin-coated mesoporous silica nanoparticles attached with biotin-tagged DNA sequences. Proof-of-concept was demonstrated by the detection of a partial sequence of the actin gene of Colletotrichum truncatum. The DNA target could be detected with an LOD of 46 pM, which was 5 times lower than a comparative assay using gold nanoparticles alone. The assay showed good selectivity against the Colletotrichum species C. scovillei and C. gloeosporioides, as well as against DNA from the fungal genera Aspergillus niger and Alternaria alternata. There was negligible change in sensor response over storage for one month at room temperature. The LFA was used to detect PCR products following extraction from mycelium.