Sensitive and quantitative detection of cardiac troponin I with upconverting nanoparticle lateral flow test with...

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Analytical Chemistry
• Clinical Diagnostics

Background:

• Point-of-care testing (POCT) for cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is crucial for diagnosing acute myocardial infarction (AMI).
• Traditional lateral flow immunoassays (LFIA) face limitations in sensitivity, matrix effects, and quantification.
• Upconverting nanoparticle (UCNP) reporters can enhance LFIA performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a UCNP-based LFIA (UCNP-LFIA) for sensitive and quantitative measurement of cTnI.
• To minimize plasma interference in LFIA for improved diagnostic accuracy.
• To assess the suitability of UCNP-LFIA for POCT in emergency departments.

Main Methods:

• Development of a UCNP-LFIA for cTnI detection.
• Incorporation of an anti-IgM scrub line and dried EDTA to mitigate plasma interference.
• Evaluation of UCNP-LFIA performance using 262 clinical plasma samples and comparison with reference assays.

Main Results:

• The developed UCNP-LFIA successfully quantified cTnI in patient plasma samples, ranging from 30-10,000 ng/L.
• Achieved a limit of blank (LoB) of 8.4 ng/L and a limit of detection (LoD) of 30 ng/L.
• Demonstrated excellent correlation with reference assays (Spearman's correlation 0.956 and 0.949, p < 0.0001).

Conclusions:

• The UCNP-LFIA provides a sensitive and quantitative method for cTnI measurement, suitable for ruling in AMI.
• The assay effectively minimizes plasma interference, enhancing reliability for POCT.
• This technology holds significant potential for rapid and simple diagnostic assays in emergency settings.