A novel quantum dots-based point of care test for syphilis

Lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) for dengue diagnosis: Recent progress and prospect

Dengue is one of the most widespread and fatal arboviral infections in the world. Early detection of dengue virus (DENV) is essential to prevent the spread of the disease and provide an immediate response. The lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) systems are low-cost, rapid, sensitive, targeted, and straightforward detection, which is an ideal early detection candidate for point-of-care testing (POCT) in dengue-affected areas. However, current commercial LFIA kits cannot fully satisfy the sensitivity, specificity, serotype differentiation, and multiplex detection requirements. Therefore, various strategies have been applied to optimize the LFIA for DENV detection, including label material improvement, optical enhancement and novel structure design. In this review, we comprehensively presented the snapshot of dengue, the principle of LFIA, and recent progress in the LFIA optimization for dengue diagnoses. Furthermore, this review also discusses insights into the prospect of LFIA dengue diagnostic methods, such as microfluidics, multiplex design, nucleic acid-typed probes and smartphone-assisted result analysis.

Recent Advances in Quantum Dot-Based Lateral Flow Immunoassays for the Rapid, Point-of-Care Diagnosis of COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has spurred demand for efficient and rapid diagnostic tools that can be deployed at point of care to quickly identify infected individuals. Existing detection methods are time consuming and they lack sensitivity. Point-of-care testing (POCT) has emerged as a promising alternative due to its user-friendliness, rapidity, and high specificity and sensitivity. Such tests can be conveniently conducted at the patient's bedside. Immunodiagnostic methods that offer the rapid identification of positive cases are urgently required. Quantum dots (QDs), known for their multimodal properties, have shown potential in terms of combating or inhibiting the COVID-19 virus. When coupled with specific antibodies, QDs enable the highly sensitive detection of viral antigens in patient samples. Conventional lateral flow immunoassays (LFAs) have been widely used for diagnostic testing due to their simplicity, low cost, and portability. However, they often lack the sensitivity required to accurately detect low viral loads. Quantum dot (QD)-based lateral flow immunoassays have emerged as a promising alternative, offering significant advancements in sensitivity and specificity. Moreover, the lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) method, which fulfils POCT standards, has gained popularity in diagnosing COVID-19. This review focuses on recent advancements in QD-based LFIA for rapid POCT COVID-19 diagnosis. Strategies to enhance sensitivity using QDs are explored, and the underlying principles of LFIA are elucidated. The benefits of using the QD-based LFIA as a POCT method are highlighted, and its published performance in COVID-19 diagnostics is examined. Overall, the integration of quantum dots with LFIA holds immense promise in terms of revolutionizing COVID-19 detection, treatment, and prevention, offering a convenient and effective approach to combat the pandemic.

To evaluate the feasibility of cadmium/tellurium (Cd/Te) quantum dots for developing N-terminal Natriuretic Peptide (NT-proBNP) in-vitro diagnostics

Quantum dots have been widely used for biomedical applications like imaging, targeted drug delivery, and in-vitro diagnostics for better sensitivity. In-vitro diagnostic, lateral flow-based assay systems are gaining attention in the field of biomarker analysis mainly due to ease of test and quick availability of results. In the study, the potential of water-soluble carboxylic (-COOH) functionalized photoluminescent Cadmium Telluride Quantum Dots (CdTe) nanoparticles for lateral flow-based detection of N-terminal Natriuretic Peptide (NT-proBNP) biomarker (for heart failure) detection has been evaluated. Monoclonal antibodies were conjugated with COOH functionalized CdTe with EDC-NHS coupling chemistry, and conjugation was confirmed using FTIR. The CdTe nanoparticle exhibited an emission maximum at 715 nm when it is excited with 375 nm. The COOH functionalized CdTe showed an antigen concentration-dependent linearity in the lateral flow applications when the dye was prepared freshly and used. However, a relative reduction in CdTe quantum dot fluorescence intensity with time was observed. Factors such as low stability could be due to the quenching of the fluorescence of CdTe. This limits its commercial viability as an in-vitro diagnostic tool; thus, modifications of the quantum dots are required to have a stable preparation for its commercial potential for quantifications.

Quantum Dot-Based Lateral Flow Immunoassay as Point-of-Care Testing for Infectious Diseases: A Narrative Review of Its Principle and Performance

Infectious diseases are the world’s greatest killers, accounting for millions of deaths worldwide annually, especially in low-income countries. As the risk of emerging infectious diseases is increasing, it is critical to rapidly diagnose infections in the early stages and prevent further transmission. However, current detection strategies are time-consuming and have exhibited low sensitivity. Numerous studies revealed the advantages of point-of-care testing, such as those which are rapid, user-friendly and have high sensitivity and specificity, and can be performed at a patient’s bedside. The Lateral Flow Immunoassay (LFIA) is the most popular diagnostic assay that fulfills the POCT standards. However, conventional AuNPs-LFIAs are moderately sensitive, meaning that rapid detection remains a challenge. Here, we review quantum dot (QDs)-based LFIA for highly sensitive rapid diagnosis of infectious diseases. We briefly describe the principles of LFIA, strategies for applying QDs to enhance sensitivity, and the published performance of the QD-LFIA tested against several infectious diseases.

Highly sensitive pregnancy test kit via oriented antibody conjugation on brush-type ligand-coated quantum beads

Lateral flow assays (LFA) enable development of portable and rapid diagnostic kits; however, their capacity to detect low levels of disease markers remains poor. Here, we report a highly sensitive pregnancy test kit as a proof of concept, by combining brush-type ligand-coated quantum beads (B-type QBs) and nanobody, which can control the antibody orientation and enhance sensitivity. The brush-type ligand provided excellent dispersion stability and high-binding capacity toward antibody. Fc-binding nanobody increased the antigen-binding capacity of conjugated antibodies on the B-type QBs. To facilitate convenient acquisition of the LFA results, we developed a smartphone-based reader with a 3D-printed optical imaging module, and validated the diagnostic performance of the sensing platform. The pregnancy test kit achieved a 5.1 pg mL^-1 limit of detection, corresponding to the levels for early-stage detection of heart disease and malaria. Our LFA application can potentially be expanded to diagnosis other diseases by simply changing the antibody pair in the kit.

An enzymatic nucleic acid vertical flow assay

Vertical flow assays have been developed in recent years addressing limitations of the lateral flow assays, including limited multiplexing capability, quantitation, and hook effect. In the present study, the first passive paper-based vertical flow assay is developed for the detection of the nucleic acid target. Horseradish peroxidase was used as an enzymatic tracer with a high potential for signal amplification. In order to achieve the best signal-to-noise ratio, different parameters of paper-based assays were optimized. The sample is heat denatured and hybridized with a specific probe to form a dual-labeled hybridization complex. A small volume of diluted sample, 12 µl, can be analyzed within 6 min on the assay in a sandwich format. Assay specificity was evaluated by testing different unrelated samples, and also, 1.7 nM was obtained as the limit of detection (LOD) using the 0 + 3SD method, which is equivalent to 8.5 fmol of double-stranded DNA in the 12 µl sample volume. The linear range of 3-194 nM with a 0.978 correlation coefficient was obtained according to the calibration curve. The developed assay was evaluated with 45 hepatitis B virus clinical plasma samples, and the result showed 100% consistency of the assay with the real-time PCR benchmark. In the present study, we sought to develop a mere detection system for nucleic acid targets, and to investigate the possibility of using enzyme reporter in a passive vertical flow assay.

Photoluminescent Molecules and Materials as Diagnostic Reporters in Lateral Flow Assays

The lateral flow assay (LFA) is a point-of-care diagnostic test commonly available in an over-the-counter format because of its simplicity, speed, low cost, and portability. The reporter particles in these assays are among their most significant components because they perform the diagnostic readout and dictate the test's sensitivity. Today, gold nanoparticles are frequently used as reporters, but recent work focusing on photoluminescent-based reporter technologies has pushed LFAs to better performance. These efforts have focused specifically on reporters made of organic fluorophores, quantum dots, lanthanide chelates, persistent luminescent phosphors, and upconversion phosphors. In most cases, photoluminescent reporters show enhanced sensitivity compared to conventional gold nanoparticle-based assays. Here, we examine the advantages and disadvantages of these different reporters and highlight their potential benefits in LFAs. Our assessment shows that photoluminescent-based LFAs can not only reach lower detection limits than LFAs with traditional reporters, but they also can be capable of quantitative and multiplex analyte detection. As a result, the photoluminescent reporters make LFAs well-suited for medical diagnostics, the food and agricultural industry, and environmental testing.

A rabbit monoclonal antibody-mediated lateral flow immunoassay for rapid detection of CTX-M extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales

Infections of CTX-M extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales are a severe threat in clinical settings. CTX-M genes on plasmids have been transferred to many Enterobacterales species, and these species have spread, leading to the global problem of antimicrobial resistance. Here, we developed a lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) based on an anti-CTX-M rabbit monoclonal antibody. This antibody detected CTX-M variants from the CTX-M-9, CTX-M-2, and CTX-M-1 groups expressed in clinical isolates. The LFIA showed 100% sensitivity and specificity with clinical isolates on agar plates, and its limit of detection was 0.8 ng/mL recombinant CTX-M-14. The rabbit monoclonal antibody did not cross-react with bacteria producing other class A β-lactamases, including SHV. In conclusion, we developed a highly sensitive and specific LFIA capable of detecting CTX-M enzyme production in Enterobacterales. We anticipate that our LFIA will become a point-of-care test enabling rapid detection of CTX-M in hospital and community settings as well as a rapid environmental test.

Rational Design of Dendritic Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles' Surface Chemistry for Quantum Dot Enrichment and an Ultrasensitive Lateral Flow Immunoassay

Lateral flow immunoassays (LFIAs) have drawn much attention in point-of-care diagnostic applications, and the development of high-performance label materials is the key. In this study, the impact of the surface chemistry of dendritic mesoporous silica nanoparticles (DMSNs) on their enrichment performance toward quantum dots (QDs) and signal amplification of the resultant DMSNs-QDs as label materials have been investigated. A series of DMSNs with controllable amino/thiol group densities have been synthesized. It is demonstrated that the amino groups are beneficial for QD fluorescence preservation, owing to the amino-based surface passivation, while the thiol groups are responsible for increasing the loading capacity of QDs due to the thiol-metal coordination. The optimized DMSNs-QDs labels with an amino density of 153 μmol g^-1 and a thiol density of 218 μmol g^-1 displayed sufficient QD fluorescence preservation (89.4%) and high QD loading capacity (1.55 g g^-1). Ultrasensitive detection of serum amyloid A (SAA) with a detection limit of 10 pg mL^-1 with the naked eye was achieved, which is 1 order of magnitude higher than that reported in the literature. This study provides insights into the development of advanced label materials and an ultrasensitive LFIA for future bioassay applications.

Multi-Quantum Dots-Embedded Silica-Encapsulated Nanoparticle-Based Lateral Flow Assay for Highly Sensitive Exosome Detection

Exosomes are attracting attention as new biomarkers for monitoring the diagnosis and prognosis of certain diseases. Colorimetric-based lateral-flow assays have been previously used to detect exosomes, but these have the disadvantage of a high limit of detection. Here, we introduce a new technique to improve exosome detection. In our approach, highly bright multi-quantum dots embedded in silica-encapsulated nanoparticles (M–QD–SNs), which have uniform size and are brighter than single quantum dots, were applied to the lateral flow immunoassay method to sensitively detect exosomes. Anti-CD63 antibodies were introduced on the surface of the M–QD–SNs, and a lateral flow immunoassay with the M–QD–SNs was conducted to detect human foreskin fibroblast (HFF) exosomes. Exosome samples included a wide range of concentrations from 100 to 1000 exosomes/µL, and the detection limit of our newly designed system was 117.94 exosome/μL, which was 11 times lower than the previously reported limits. Additionally, exosomes were selectively detected relative to the negative controls, liposomes, and newborn calf serum, confirming that this method prevented non-specific binding. Thus, our study demonstrates that highly sensitive and quantitative exosome detection can be conducted quickly and accurately by using lateral immunochromatographic analysis with M–QD–SNs.

Recent Advances in Nanosystems and Strategies for Vaginal Delivery of Antimicrobials

Vaginal infections such as bacterial vaginosis (BV), chlamydia, gonorrhea, genital herpes, candidiasis, and trichomoniasis affect millions of women each year. They are caused by an overgrowth of microorganisms, generally sexually transmitted, which in turn can be favored by alterations in the vaginal flora. Conventional treatments of these infections consist in systemic or local antimicrobial therapies. However, in the attempt to reduce adverse effects and to contrast microbial resistance and infection recurrences, many efforts have been devoted to the development of vaginal systems for the local delivery of antimicrobials. Several topical dosage forms such as aerosols, lotions, suppositories, tablets, gels, and creams have been proposed, although they are sometimes ineffective due to their poor penetration and rapid removal from the vaginal canal. For these reasons, the development of innovative drug delivery systems, able to remain in situ and release active agents for a prolonged period, is becoming more and more important. Among all, nanosystems such as liposomes, nanoparticles (NPs), and micelles with tunable surface properties, but also thermogelling nanocomposites, could be exploited to improve local drug delivery, biodistribution, retention, and uptake in vulvovaginal tissues. The aim of this review is to provide a survey of the variety of nanoplatforms developed for the vaginal delivery of antimicrobial agents. A concise summary of the most common vaginal infections and of the conventional therapies is also provided.

Quantum Dots: An Emerging Tool for Point-of-Care Testing

Quantum dots (QDs) are semiconductor crystals in the nanodimension having unique optical and electronic properties that differ from bulk material due to quantum mechanics. The QDs have a narrow emission peak, size-dependent emission wavelength, and broad excitation range which can be utilized for diverse biomedical applications such as molecular imaging, biosensing, and diagnostic systems. This article reviews the current developments of biomedical applications of QDs with special reference to point-of-care testing.

Tutorial: design and fabrication of nanoparticle-based lateral-flow immunoassays

Lateral-flow assays (LFAs) are quick, simple and cheap assays to analyze various samples at the point of care or in the field, making them one of the most widespread biosensors currently available. They have been successfully employed for the detection of a myriad of different targets (ranging from atoms up to whole cells) in all type of samples (including water, blood, foodstuff and environmental samples). Their operation relies on the capillary flow of the sample throughout a series of sequential pads, each with different functionalities aiming to generate a signal to indicate the absence/presence (and, in some cases, the concentration) of the analyte of interest. To have a user-friendly operation, their development requires the optimization of multiple, interconnected parameters that may overwhelm new developers. In this tutorial, we provide the readers with: (i) the basic knowledge to understand the principles governing an LFA and to take informed decisions during lateral flow strip design and fabrication, (ii) a roadmap for optimal LFA development independent of the specific application, (iii) a step-by-step example procedure for the assembly and operation of an LF strip for the detection of human IgG and (iv) an extensive troubleshooting section addressing the most frequent issues in designing, assembling and using LFAs. By changing only the receptors, the provided example procedure can easily be adapted for cost-efficient detection of a broad variety of targets.

Quantum Dots-Based Point-of-Care Measurement of Procalcitonin in Finger-Prick Blood and Venous Whole Blood Specimens

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether the performance of a new quantum dots-based point-of-care test (POCT) devices is qualified for procalcitonin testing.

METHODS

Finger-prick and venous blood specimens from 153 patients were measured with a quantum dots-based POCT device; the results were compared with those from the reference method.

RESULTS

The quantum dots-based POCT device correlated well with the reference method in measuring plasma, venous whole blood, and finger-prick blood. No significant bias was observed (-0.08 ng/mL). At 0.5 ng per mL cutoff value, the concordances were 96.6%, 94.6%, and 90.5% for plasma, venous whole blood, and finger-prick blood, respectively. And at 2 ng per mL cutoff value, the concordances were 98.0%, 96.6%, and 95.3%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The quantum dots-based POCT device measured procalcitonin with multiple specimen types, high sensitivity, wide detection range, and short turnaround time. It would allow a more widespread use of procalcitonin and help lessen the burden of overcrowding in healthcare facilities in China.

Towards Lateral Flow Quantitative Assays: Detection Approaches

Point-of-care (POC) or bedside analysis is a global trend in modern diagnostics. Progress in POC testing has largely been provided by advanced manufacturing technology for lateral flow (immunochromatographic) test strips. They are widely used to rapidly and easily control a variety of biomarkers of infectious diseases and metabolic and functional disorders, as well as in consumer protection and environmental monitoring. However, traditional lateral flow tests rely on visual assessment and qualitative conclusion, which limit the objectivity and information output of the assays. Therefore, there is a need for approaches that retain the advantages of lateral flow assays and provide reliable quantitative information about the content of a target compound in a sample mixture. This review describes the main options for detecting, processing, and interpreting immunochromatographic analysis results. The possibilities of modern portable detectors that register colored, fluorescent, magnetic, and conductive labels are discussed. Prospects for further development in this direction are also examined.

Nanomedicine applications in women's health: state of the art

State-of-the-art applications of nanomedicine have the potential to revolutionize the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of a range of conditions and diseases affecting women’s health. In this review, we provide a synopsis of potential applications of nanomedicine in some of the most dominant fields of women’s health: mental health, sexual health, reproductive medicine, oncology, menopause-related conditions and dementia. We explore published studies arising from in vitro and in vivo experiments, and clinical trials where available, to reveal novel and highly promising therapeutic applications of nanomedicine in these fields. For the first time, we summarize the growing body of evidence relating to the use of nanomaterials as experimental tools for the detection, prevention, and treatment of significant diseases and conditions across the life course of a cisgender woman, from puberty to menopause; revealing the far-reaching and desirable theoretical impact of nanomedicine across different medical disciplines. We also present an overview of potential concerns regarding the therapeutic applications of nanomedicine and the factors currently restricting the growth of applied nanomedicine.

A fluorescent immunochromatographic strip test using Quantum Dots for fumonisins detection

A fluorescent immunochromatographic strip test (ICST) based on the use of Quantum Dots (QD) was developed and applied to detect fumonisins in maize samples. A limit of detection for fumonisin B1 of 2.8 µg L(-1) was achieved, with an analytical working range of 3-350 µg L(-1), corresponding to 30-3500 µg kg(-1) in maize flour samples, according with the extraction procedure. The time required to perform the analysis was 22 min, including sample preparation. Recovery values in the range from 91.4% to 105.4% with coefficients of variation not exceeding 5% were obtained for fortified and naturally contaminated maize flour samples. To evaluate the possible improvements due to the use of QD for ICST technology, we performed a direct comparison of the proposed QD-ICST to a gold nanoparticles- and a chemiluminescent-ICST previously developed for fumonisins detection, in which the same immunoreagents were employed.

CdSe/ZnS Quantum Dots-Labeled Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Targeted Fluorescence Imaging of Pancreas Tissues and Therapy of Type 1 Diabetic Rats

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been used for therapy of type 1 diabetes mellitus. However, the in vivo distribution and therapeutic effects of transplanted MSCs are not clarified well. Herein, we reported that CdSe/ZnS quantum dots-labeled MSCs were prepared for targeted fluorescence imaging and therapy of pancreas tissues in rat models with type 1 diabetes. CdSe/ZnS quantum dots were synthesized, their biocompatibility was evaluated, and then, the appropriate concentration of quantum dots was selected to label MSCs. CdSe/ZnS quantum dots-labeled MSCs were injected into mouse models with type 1 diabetes via tail vessel and then were observed by using the Bruker In-Vivo F PRO system, and the blood glucose levels were monitored for 8 weeks. Results showed that prepared CdSe/ZnS quantum dots owned good biocompatibility. Significant differences existed in distribution of quantum dots-labeled MSCs between normal control rats and diabetic rats (p < 0.05). The ratios of the fluorescence intensity (RFI) analysis showed an accumulation rate of MSCs in the pancreas of rats in the diabetes group which was about 32 %, while that in the normal control group rats was about 18 %. The blood glucose levels were also monitored for 8 weeks after quantum dots-labeled MSC injection. Statistical differences existed between the blood glucose levels of the diabetic rat control group and MSC-injected diabetic rat group (p < 0.01), and the MSC-injected diabetic rat group displayed lower blood glucose levels. In conclusion, CdSe/ZnS-labeled MSCs can target in vivo pancreas tissues in diabetic rats, and significantly reduce the blood glucose levels in diabetic rats, and own potential application in therapy of diabetic patients in the near future.

Integrated OLED as excitation light source in fluorescent lateral flow immunoassays

The integration of organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) as excitation light sources for quantum dot-based fluorescent lateral flow immunoassay systems (LFIA) was investigated. This approach has the potential to deliver a sensitive visible detection scheme for low-cost, disposable lab-on-chip point-of-care (POC) diagnosis system. Thin film phosphorescent green OLEDs fabricated on plastic substrates were integrated on-chip to excite the test line of a quantum dot-based LFIA (QD-LFIA). OLEDs were fabricated by sequential deposition of organic thin films (total of ~100 nm) onto ITO-coated PET substrates. CdSe/ZnS QDs emitting at 655 nm and Au nanoparticles (NP - 10 nm size) conjugated antibodies were used for the fluorescence QD-LFIA and conventional reflection-mode Au NP-LFIA, respectively. Thin plastic color light filters were integrated for filtering the excitation light source and, thereby, increasing the contrast of the emitted light for optimized visual detection. Integration of the OLED and color filters with the analytical membrane was achieved using adhesive techniques facilitated by the planar nature of the layers, which suggests possible large scale manufacturing using roll-to-roll processing. Gray scale analysis from digital images captured with a digital camera was used to quantify the visual sensitivity. The signal intensity, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and the limit of detection (LOD) of OLED integrated QD-LFIAs were compared to Au NP LFIAs. OLED QD-LFIA exhibited superior performance in all signal aspects: 7-8× higher signal intensity and SNR, and a 7× lower LOD of 3 nM (measured at S/N=3). These results demonstrate the potential of OLED-integrated in LFIA devices for obtaining sensitive, fast and low-cost POC diagnostics.

Lateral flow devices for nucleic acid analysis exploiting quantum dots as reporters

There is a growing interest in the development of biosensors in the form of simple lateral flow devices that enable visual detection of nucleic acid sequences while eliminating several steps required for pipetting, incubation and washing out the excess of reactants. In this work, we present the first dipstick-type nucleic acid biosensors based on quantum dots (QDs) as reporters. The biosensors enable sequence confirmation of the target DNA by hybridization and simple visual detection of the emitted fluorescence under a UV lamp. The 'diagnostic' membrane of the biosensor contains a test zone (TZ) and a control zone (CZ). The CZ always fluoresces in order to confirm the proper function of the biosensor. Fluorescence is emitted from the TZ, only when the specific nucleic acid sequence is present. We have developed two general types of QD-based nucleic acid biosensors, namely, Type I and Type II, in which the TZ consists of either immobilized streptavidin (Type I) or immobilized oligodeoxynucleotides (Type II). The control zone consists of immobilized biotinylated albumin. No purification steps are required prior to the application of the DNA sample on the strip. The QD-based nucleic acid biosensors performed accurately and reproducibly when applied to (a) the visual detection of PCR amplification products and (b) visual genotyping of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in human genomic DNA from clinical samples. As low as 1.5 fmol of double-stranded DNA were clearly detected by naked eye and the dynamic range extended to 200 fmol. The %CV were estimated to be 4.3-8.2.

Novel strategies to enhance lateral flow immunoassay sensitivity for detecting foodborne pathogens

Food contaminated by foodborne pathogens causes diseases, affects individuals, and even kills those affected individuals. As such, rapid and sensitive detection methods should be developed to screen pathogens in food. One current detection method is lateral flow immunoassay, an efficient technique because of several advantages, including rapidity, simplicity, stability, portability, and sensitivity. This review presents the format and principle of lateral flow immunoassay strip and the development of conventional lateral flow immunoassay for detecting foodborne pathogens. Furthermore, novel strategies that can be applied to enhance the sensitivity of lateral flow immunoassay to detect foodborne pathogens are presented; these strategies include innovating new label application, designing new formats of lateral flow immunoassay, combining with other methods, and developing signal amplification systems. With these advancements, detection sensitivity and detection time can be greatly improved.

Application of DNA Aptamers and Quantum Dots to Lateral Flow Test Strips for Detection of Foodborne Pathogens with Improved Sensitivity versus Colloidal Gold

Preliminary studies aimed at improving the sensitivity of foodborne pathogen detection via lateral flow (LF) test strips by use of high affinity DNA aptamers for capture and reporter functions when coupled to red-emitting quantum dots (Qdot 655) are reported. A variety of DNA aptamers developed against Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella enterica were paired in capture and reporter combinations to determine which yielded the strongest detection of their cognate bacteria using a colloidal gold screening system. Several promising sandwich combinations were identified for each of the three bacterial LF strip systems. The best E. coli aptamer-LF system was further studied and yielded a visible limit of detection (LOD) of ~3,000 E. coli 8739 and ~6,000 E. coli O157:H7 in buffer. These LODs were reduced to ~300–600 bacterial cells per test respectively by switching to a Qdot 655 aptamer-LF system. Novel aspects of these assays such as the use of high levels of detergents to avoid quantum dot agglutination and enhance migration in analytical membranes, identification of optimal analytical membrane types, UV-immobilization of capture aptamers, and novel dual biotin/digoxigenin-end labeled aptamer streptavidin-colloidal gold or -Qdot 655 conjugates plus anti-digoxigenin antibody control lines are also discussed. In general, this work provides proof-of-principle for highly sensitive aptamer-Qdot LF strip assays for rapid foodborne pathogen detection.

Capillary-driven surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-based microfluidic chip for abrin detection

Herein, we firstly demonstrate the design and the proof-of-concept use of a capillary-driven surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-based microfluidic chip for abrin detection. The micropillar array substrate was etched and coated with a gold film by microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) process to integrate into a lateral flow test strip. The detection of abrin solutions of various concentrations was performed by the as-prepared microfluidic chip. It was shown that the correlation between the abrin concentration and SERS signal was found to be linear within the range of 0.1 ng/mL to 1 μg/mL with a limit of detection of 0.1 ng/mL. Our microfluidic chip design enhanced the operability of SERS-based immunodiagnostic techniques, significantly reducing the complication and cost of preparation as compared to previous SERS-based works. Meanwhile, this design proved the superiority to conventional lateral flow test strips in respect of both sensitivity and quantitation and showed great potential in the diagnosis and treatment for abrin poisoning as well as on-site screening of abrin-spiked materials.

Quantitative Fluorescence Assays Using a Self-Powered Paper-Based Microfluidic Device and a Camera-Equipped Cellular Phone

Fluorescence assays often require specialized equipment and, therefore, are not easily implemented in resource-limited environments. Herein we describe a point-of-care assay strategy in which fluorescence in the visible region is used as a readout, while a camera-equipped cellular phone is used to capture the fluorescent response and quantify the assay. The fluorescence assay is made possible using a paper-based microfluidic device that contains an internal fluidic battery, a surface-mount LED, a 2-mm section of a clear straw as a cuvette, and an appropriately-designed small molecule reagent that transforms from weakly fluorescent to highly fluorescent when exposed to a specific enzyme biomarker. The resulting visible fluorescence is digitized by photographing the assay region using a camera-equipped cellular phone. The digital images are then quantified using image processing software to provide sensitive as well as quantitative results. In a model 30 min assay, the enzyme β-D-galactosidase was measured quantitatively down to 700 pM levels. This Communication describes the design of these types of assays in paper-based microfluidic devices and characterizes the key parameters that affect the sensitivity and reproducibility of the technique.

Quantum-dot-based immunochromatographic assay for total IgE in human serum

To rapidly quantify total immunoglobulin E levels in human serum, we developed a novel quantum-dot-based immunochromatographic assay that employs digital recording of fluorescence. It can detect IgE levels of 5-1000 kU/L, with a coefficient of variation ranging from 2.0 to 9.5%. The assay can be processed in 10 min. The developed assay was tested on 95 serum samples. The correlation coefficient between the IgE values obtained by the proposed assay and those obtained by a commercial ELISA kit was 0.9884. Our assay thus shows promise as a new diagnostic tool for IgE detection.

Self-assembly of gold nanoparticles to silver microspheres as highly efficient 3D SERS substrates

Herein we report a simple, one-pot, surfactant-free synthesis of 3D Ag microspheres (AgMSs) in aqueous phase at room temperature. The 3D AgMSs act as supports to fix the gold nanoparticles (GNPs) in 3D space via the interaction between the carboxyl groups of GNPs and the Ag atoms of AgMSs. The ensemble of AgMSs@GNPs with high surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) activity and sensitivity can be an ideal 3D substrate choice for practical SERS detection applications. The simple self-assembly strategy may be extended to other metallic materials with great potentials in SERS, catalysis, and photoelectronic devices.