Colored Cellulose Nanoparticles with High Stability and Easily Modified Surface for Accurate and Sensitive Multiplex...

Area of Science:

• Biomarker detection
• Nanotechnology applications
• Point-of-care diagnostics

Background:

• Multiplex lateral flow assays (mLFAs) offer efficient, cost-effective, and accurate multi-analyte detection.
• Current mLFAs face challenges like monochromatic probes, test line interference, and reduced sensitivity/specificity.
• Novel probe materials are needed to overcome these limitations for broader mLFAs adoption.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop novel, multi-colored probe particles for enhanced mLFAs.
• To address limitations of existing mLFAs, including probe color and signal stability.
• To create a practical system solution for advanced mLFAs.

Main Methods:

• Synthesized cellulose nanoparticles (CNPs) with tunable sizes and shapes.
• Loaded dye molecules onto CNPs using industrial dyeing methods.
• Coated CNPs with polydopamine (PDA) to create dCNPs@P probes with reactive surfaces and dye protection.

Main Results:

• dCNPs@P exhibited tunable colors, higher signal intensity, and superior stability compared to gold nanoparticles.
• The dCNP@P-based mLFAs demonstrated high specificity and accuracy in detecting mycotoxins and inflammatory biomarkers.
• Sensitivity was enhanced, surpassing that of gold nanoparticle-based assays, with quantifiable results via colorimetric or photothermal signals.

Conclusions:

• Polydopamine-coated dyed cellulose nanoparticles (dCNPs@P) offer a practical and effective solution for multiplex lateral flow assays.
• The developed probes overcome key mLFAs limitations, enabling sensitive and accurate detection of multiple analytes.
• This technology advances decentralized testing for applications in food safety and clinical diagnostics.