Nanoparticle-based lateral flow biosensors

Abstract

Lateral flow biosensors (LFBs) are paper-based devices which permit the performance of low-cost and fast diagnostics with good robustness, specificity, sensitivity and low limits of detection. The use of nanoparticles (NPs) as labels play an important role in the design and fabrication of a lateral flow strip (LFS). The choice of NPs and the corresponding detection method directly affect the performance of these devices. This review discusses aspects related to the application of different nanomaterials (e.g. gold nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, quantum dots, up-converting phosphor technologies, and latex beads, between others) in LFBs. Moreover, different detection methods (colorimetric, fluorescent, electrochemical, magnetic, etc.) and signal enhancement strategies (affording secondary reactions or modifying the architecture of the LFS) as well as the use of devices such as smartphones to mediate the response of LFSs will be analyzed.

Multicolor immunochromatographic strip test based on gold nanoparticles for the determination of aflatoxin B1 and fumonisins

“…This effort is testified also by the number of papers reporting new materials to be used as labels [10][11][12][39][40], sometimes in combination with innovative detection technologies [13,41], and of enhancement strategies aimed at increasing the sensitivity of the ICST compared to using traditional gold nanoparticles [42][43], as also summarized in two comprehensive reviews [44][45]. Within the number of novel materials for labeling antibodies in ICTS, the request for analytical devices with multiplexing capability is prompting towards using labels easily distinguishable from each other, such as nanoparticles with different colors [19][20]23].…”

Lateral flow based immunobiosensors for detection of food contaminants

“…In lateral flow tests, nitrocellulose membrane act as stationary phase, and aptamer, antibody or antigen are immobilized in the capture area. To visualize the interactions in capture area, different labels have been used including liposome, colloidal carbon, colloidal gold, fluorescent probes, quantum dots, phosphors, bioluminescent markers, enzyme labels, paramagnetic particles and latex particles (Takanashi, Okame et al 2008;Blazkova, Koets et al 2009;Quesada-González and Merkoçi 2015;Qi, Huang et al 2016;Rodríguez, Covián et al 2016;Zhao, Wang et al 2016), each of which has particular characteristic and their usage is dependent on the analyzed samples (Tse 2009). …”

Current and Emerging Technologies for Rapid Detection of Pathogens

“…In particular, quantum dots show unique fluorescence properties, such as high and stable fluorescence signal [53][54][55]. During the last decade, quantum dot-based lateral flow assays have been applied to the detection of foodborne pathogen [56][57][58]. Bruno [56] utilized quantum dot-conjugated antibody as the signal reporter of the lateral flow assay to detect Escherichia coli O157:H7.…”

“…Magnetic beads are another type of label, which can realize quantitative detection of targets by measuring the magnetic signal [40,57,59]. Due to the fact that they are strongly colored and can enrich and separate targets from complex matrix, magnetic beads are new attractive materials to construct a lateral flow assay, which will probably replace traditional labels.…”