Nanolabels for biosensors based on lateral flow immunoassays

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Nanotechnology
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the development of advanced biosensing technologies.
• Lateral flow immunoassays (LFIA) are rapid diagnostic tools that can be enhanced for greater sensitivity and quantification.
• Nanoparticles serve as effective reporter labels in biosensing applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the principles and formats of LFIA.
• To analyze recent advancements in LFIA utilizing various nanoparticles as labels and sensitive transducers.
• To discuss the societal impact and accessibility challenges of these biosensors.

Main Methods:

• Review of scientific literature on LFIA and nanoparticle-based biosensors.
• Analysis of different nanoparticle types (e.g., gold, quantum dots) used as labels.
• Examination of signal transduction mechanisms for enhanced detection.

Main Results:

• Synergistic combination of LFIA with nanoparticle labels and signal transducers significantly improves sensitivity and quantification capabilities.
• Diverse nanoparticle labels enable tailored biosensor designs for specific applications.
• Biosensors show promise in clinical diagnostics, food safety, and environmental monitoring.

Conclusions:

• Nanoparticle-enhanced LFIA represent a significant advancement in rapid biosensing.
• These technologies have broad applicability across critical sectors.
• Overcoming barriers in prototype development is crucial for societal accessibility.