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

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.

QDs-based fluorescent lateral flow assays for Point-of-care testing of insulin

Point-of-care testing (POCT) can be performed near the site of the patient to achieve results in a few minutes. Different POCT devices are available in the market, such as microfluidic chips and paper-based lateral flow assays (LFAs). The paper-based LFAs have certain advantages, such as being cheap and disposable, able to detect a wide range of biomolecules, and the fluid flows through them via capillary action eliminating the need for external forces. The LFAs can be optimized for the sensitive and rapid detection of biomolecules. In this study, paper-based fluorescent LFAs platforms using aptamers as the biorecognition molecules were developed for the POCT of insulin. Various parameters were optimized such as concentrations of aptamers, the type of reporter molecules, the volume of sample, and the assay time to quantify insulin levels using a standard LFA reader. The fluorescent LFAs exhibited a linear detection range of 0.1-4 ng.mL-1 with a limit of detection (LOD) 0.1 ng.mL-1. The developed LFAs will help to achieve insulin measurement in a few minutes and will be easy to perform by end-users without the requirement of sophisticated instruments, laboratory set-up, and trained personnel. The developed device will be useful for the measurement of insulin levels in biological samples without the need for pretreatment, reducing the overall cost and time of testing. Moreover, the POCT device were fabricated using paper which is a low-cost (approximately AUD 2 per strip) option and is disposable.Clinical Relevance- POCT monitoring of insulin can facilitate both disease diagnosis and management. The developed LFAs have the capability of rapidly testing insulin concentration within several minutes. It will benefit both patients for at-home daily insulin monitoring and clinicians for hospital rapid insulin testing.

Comparison of DNA-Gold Nanoparticle Conjugation Methods: Application in Lateral Flow Nucleic Acid Biosensors

Lateral flow nucleic acid biosensors (LFNABs) have attracted extensive attention due to their rapid turnaround time, low cost, and results that are visible to the naked eye. One of the key steps to develop LFNABs is to prepare DNA-gold nanoparticle (DNA-AuNP) conjugates, which affect the sensitivity of LFNABs significantly. To date, various conjugation methods-including the salt-aging method, microwave-assisted dry heating method, freeze-thaw method, low-pH method, and butanol dehydration method-have been reported to prepare DNA-AuNP conjugates. In this study, we conducted a comparative analysis of the analytical performances of LFNABs prepared with the above five conjugation methods, and we found that the butanol dehydration method gave the lowest detection limit. After systematic optimization, the LFNAB prepared with the butanol dehydration method had a detection limit of 5 pM for single-strand DNA, which is 100 times lower than that of the salt-aging method. The as-prepared LFNAB was applied to detect miRNA-21 in human serum, with satisfactory results. The butanol dehydration method thus offers a rapid conjugation approach to prepare DNA-AuNP conjugates for LFNABs, and it can also be extended to other types of DNA biosensors and biomedical applications.

Paper-Based Biosensors for the Detection of Nucleic Acids from Pathogens

Paper-based biosensors are microfluidic analytical devices used for the detection of biochemical substances. The unique properties of paper-based biosensors, including low cost, portability, disposability, and ease of use, make them an excellent tool for point-of-care testing. Among all analyte detection methods, nucleic acid-based pathogen detection offers versatility due to the ease of nucleic acid synthesis. In a point-of-care testing context, the combination of nucleic acid detection and a paper-based platform allows for accurate detection. This review offers an overview of contemporary paper-based biosensors for detecting nucleic acids from pathogens. The methods and limitations of implementing an integrated portable paper-based platform are discussed. The review concludes with potential directions for future research in the development of paper-based biosensors.

New Advances in Lateral Flow Immunoassay (LFI) Technology for Food Safety Detection

With the continuous development of China’s economy and society, people and the government have higher and higher requirements for food safety. Testing for food dopants and toxins can prevent the occurrence of various adverse health phenomena in the world’s population. By deploying new and powerful sensors that enable rapid sensing processes, the food industry can help detect trace adulteration and toxic substances. At present, as a common food safety detection method, lateral flow immunochromatography (LFI) is widely used in food safety testing, environmental testing and clinical medical treatment because of its advantages of simplicity, speed, specificity and low cost, and plays a pivotal role in ensuring food safety. This paper mainly focuses on the application of lateral flow immunochromatography and new technologies combined with test strips in food safety detection, such as aptamers, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, quantum dots, electrochemical test strip detection technology, biosensor test strip detection, etc. In addition, sensing principles such as fluorescence resonance energy transfer can also more effective. Different methods have different characteristics. The following is a review of the application of these technologies in food safety detection.

A Review of the Nucleic Acid-Based Lateral Flow Assay for Detection of Breast Cancer from Circulating Biomarkers at a Point-of-Care in Low Income Countries

The current levels of breast cancer in African women have contributed to the high mortality rates among them. In South Africa, the incidence of breast cancer is also on the rise due to changes in behavioural and biological risk factors. Such low survival rates can be attributed to the late diagnosis of the disease due to a lack of access and the high costs of the current diagnostic tools. Breast cancer is asymptomatic at early stages, which is the best time to detect it and intervene to prevent high mortality rates. Proper risk assessment, campaigns, and access to adequate healthcare need to be prioritised among patients at an early stage. Early detection of breast cancer can significantly improve the survival rate of breast cancer patients, since therapeutic strategies are more effective at this stage. Early detection of breast cancer can be achieved by developing devices that are simple, sensitive, low-cost, and employed at point-of-care (POC), especially in low-income countries (LICs). Nucleic-acid-based lateral flow assays (NABLFAs) that combine molecular detection with the immunochemical visualisation principles, have recently emerged as tools for disease diagnosis, even for low biomarker concentrations. Detection of circulating genetic biomarkers in non-invasively collected biological fluids with NABLFAs presents an appealing and suitable method for POC testing in resource-limited regions and/or LICs. Diagnosis of breast cancer at an early stage will improve the survival rates of the patients. This review covers the analysis of the current state of NABLFA technologies used in developing countries to reduce the scourge of breast cancer.

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.

Advances in quantum dots as diagnostic tools

Quantum dots (QDs) are crystalline inorganic semiconductor nanoparticles a few nanometers in size that possess unique optical electronic properties vs those of larger materials. For example, QDs usually exhibit a strong and long-lived photoluminescence emission, a feature dependent on size, shape and composition. These special optoelectronic properties make them a promising alternative to conventional luminescent dyes as optical labels in biomedical applications including biomarker quantification, biomolecule targeting and molecular imaging. A key parameter for use of QDs is to functionalize their surface with suitable (bio)molecules to provide stability in aqueous solutions and efficient and selective tagging biomolecules of interest. Researchers have successfully developed biocompatible QDs and have linked them to various biomolecule recognition elements, i.e., antibodies, proteins, DNA, etc. In this chapter, QD synthesis and characterization strategies are reviewed as well as the development of nanoplatforms for luminescent biosensing and imaging-guided targeting. Relevant biomedical applications are highlighted with a particular focus on recent progress in ultrasensitive detection of clinical biomarkers. Finally, key future research goals to functionalize QDs as diagnostic tools are explored.

Visual Detection of ACE I/D Polymorphism Using T-ARMS-PCR Combined with a Lateral Flow Assay and Its Clinical Application

Insertions/deletions (indels) variations have been recognized as a promising marker for the development of various diseases. However, methods used for the genotyping of indels in studies were tedious, complicated, and required sophisticated or expensive instruments, as well as complex data analysis, which makes it difficult to meet the demand of point of care testing. Herein, we presented a fast and accurate biosensor (T-ARMS-PCR-LFA) by the combination of tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system polymerase chain reaction (T-ARMS-PCR) and GoldMag lateral flow assay (LFA) for visual genotyping of ACE I/D polymorphism. ACE I/D can be distinguished by employing four primers in one PCR reaction, and genotyping results were presented by the visual inspection of colors on the nitrocellulose membrane of LFA strips within 5 min. And 50 of the human genomic DNA samples were used for the detection of ACE I/D to further validate the accuracy of the T-ARMS-PCR-LFA system. As a demonstration, we showed that ACE I/D could be genotyped using a low amount of DNA sample (25 ng) with an accuracy of 100%, without complicated operation steps and data analysis, which is better than that of the conventional method (agarose gel electrophoresis analysis after common PCR). In conclusion, the biosensor is highly applicable for genotyping specific large indel variants in clinical practices, which enables rapid clinical decision-making, improves the management of disease diagnosis, and facilitates personalized medicine.

Recent Advancements in Enzyme-Based Lateral Flow Immunoassays

Paper-based lateral-flow immunoassays (LFIAs) have achieved considerable commercial success and their impact in diagnostics is continuously growing. LFIA results are often obtained by visualizing by the naked eye color changes in given areas, providing a qualitative information about the presence/absence of the target analyte in the sample. However, this platform has the potential to provide ultrasensitive quantitative analysis for several applications. Indeed, LFIA is based on well-established immunological techniques, which have known in the last year great advances due to the combination of highly sensitive tracers, innovative signal amplification strategies and last-generation instrumental detectors. All these available progresses can be applied also to the LFIA platform by adapting them to a portable and miniaturized format. This possibility opens countless strategies for definitively turning the LFIA technique into an ultrasensitive quantitative method. Among the different proposals for achieving this goal, the use of enzyme-based immunoassay is very well known and widespread for routine analysis and it can represent a valid approach for improving LFIA performances. Several examples have been recently reported in literature exploiting enzymes properties and features for obtaining significative advances in this field. In this review, we aim to provide a critical overview of the recent progresses in highly sensitive LFIA detection technologies, involving the exploitation of enzyme-based amplification strategies. The features and applications of the technologies, along with future developments and challenges, are also discussed.

Rapid developments in lateral flow immunoassay for nucleic acid detection

Recently, lateral flow assay (LFA) for nucleic acid detection has drawn increasing attention in the point-of-care testing fields. Due to its rapidity, easy implementation, and low equipment requirement, it is well suited for use in rapid diagnosis, food authentication, and environmental monitoring under source-limited conditions. This review will discuss two main research directions of lateral flow nucleic acid tests. The first one is the incorporation of isothermal amplification methods with LFA, which ensures an ultra-high testing sensitivity under non-laboratory conditions. The two most commonly used methodologies will be discussed, namely Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) and Recombinase Polymerase Amplification (RPA), and some novel methods with special properties will also be introduced. The second research direction is the development of novel labeling materials. It endeavors to increase the sensitivity and quantifiability of LFA testing, where signals can be read and analyzed by portable devices. These methods are compared in terms of limits of detection, detection times, and quantifiabilities. It is anticipated that future research on lateral flow nucleic acid tests will focus on the integration of the whole testing process into a microfluidic system and the combination with molecular diagnostic tools such as clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats to facilitate a rapid and accurate test.

Yersinia pestis detection using biotinylated dNTPs for signal enhancement in lateral flow assays

Due to the extreme infectivity of Yersinia pestis it poses a serious threat as a potential biowarfare agent, which can be rapidly and facilely disseminated. A cost-effective and specific method for its rapid detection at extremely low levels is required, in order to facilitate a timely intervention for containment. Here, we report an ultrasensitive method exploiting a combination of isothermal nucleic acid amplification with a tailed forward primer and biotinylated dNTPs, which is performed in less than 30 min. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and enzyme linked oligonucleotide assay (ELONA) were used to optimise assay parameters for implementation on the LFA, and achieved detection limits of 45 pM and 940 fM using SA-HRP and SA-polyHRP, respectively. Replacing PCR with isothermal amplification, namely recombinase polymerase amplification, similar signals were obtained (314 fM), with just 15 min of amplification. The lateral flow detection of the isothermally amplified and labelled amplicon was then explored and detection limits of 7 fM and 0.63 fg achieved for synthetic and genomic DNA, respectively. The incorporation of biotinylated dNTPs and their exploitation for the ultrasensitive molecular detection of a nucleic acid target has been demonstrated and this generic platform can be exploited for a multitude of diverse real life applications.

Quantum Dot Bioconjugates for Diagnostic Applications

Quantum dots (QDs) are a special type of engineered nanomaterials with outstanding optoelectronic properties that make them as a very promising alternative to conventional luminescent dyes in biomedical applications, including biomolecule (BM) targeting, luminescence imaging and drug delivery. A key parameter to ensure successful biomedical applications of QDs is the appropriate surface modification, i.e. the surface of the nanomaterials should be modified with the appropriate functional groups to ensure stability in aqueous solutions and it should be conjugated with recognition elements capable of ensuring an efficient tagging of the BMs of interest. In this review we summarize the most relevant strategies used for surface modification of QDs and for their conjugation to BMs in preparation of their application in nanoplatforms for luminescent BM sensing and imaging-guided targeting. The applications of conjugations of photoluminescent QDs with different BMs in both in vitro and in vivo chemical sensing, immunoassays or luminescence imaging are reviewed. Recent progress in the application of functionalized QDs in ultrasensitive detection in bioanalysis, diagnostics and imaging strategies are reported. Finally, some key future research goals in the progress of bioconjugation of QDs for diagnosis are identified, including novel synthetic approaches, the need for exhaustive characterization of bioconjugates and the design of signal amplification schemes.

Recent advances in high-sensitivity detection methods for paper-based lateral-flow assay

Paper-based lateral-flow assays (LFAs) have achieved considerable commercial success and continue to have a significant impact on medical diagnostics and environmental monitoring. Conventional LFAs are typically performed by examining the color changes in the test bands by naked eye. However, for critical biochemical markers that are present in extremely small amounts in the clinical specimens, this readout method is not quantitative, and does not provide sufficient sensitivity or suitable detection limit for a reliable assay. Diverse technologies for high-sensitivity LFA detection have been developed and commercialization efforts are underway. In this review, we aim to provide a critical and objective overview of the recent progress in high-sensitivity LFA detection technologies, which involve the exploitation of the physical and chemical responses of transducing particles. The features and biomedical applications of the technologies, along with future prospects and challenges, are also discussed.

Application of aptamers as molecular recognition elements in lateral flow assays

Owing to their ease in operation and fast turnaround time, lateral flow assays (LFAs) are increasingly being used as point-of-care diagnostic tests for variety of analytes. In a majority of these LFAs, antibodies are used as a molecular recognition element. Antibodies have a number of limitations such as high batch-to-batch variation, poor stability, long development time, difficulty in functionalization and need for ethical approval and cold chain. All these factors pose a great challenge to scale up the antibody-based tests. In recent years, the advent of aptamer technology has made a paradigm shift in the point-of-care diagnostics owing to the various advantages of aptamers over antibodies that favour their adaptability on a variety of sensing platforms including the lateral flow. In this review, we have highlighted the advantages of aptamers over antibodies, suitability of aptamers for lateral flow platforms, different types of aptamer-based LFAs and various labels for aptamer-based LFAs. We have also provided a summary of the applications of aptamer technology in LFAs for analytical applications.

Duplex-Specific Nuclease-Amplified Detection of MicroRNA Using Compact Quantum Dot-DNA Conjugates

Advances in nanotechnology have provided new opportunities for the design of next-generation nucleic acid biosensors and diagnostics. Indeed, combining advances in functional nanoparticles, DNA nanotechnology, and nuclease-enzyme-based amplification can give rise to new assays with advantageous properties. In this work, we developed a microRNA (miRNA) assay using bright fluorescent quantum dots (QDs), simple DNA probes, and the enzyme duplex-specific nuclease. We employed an isothermal target-recycling mechanism, where a single miRNA target triggers the cleavage of many DNA signal probes. The incorporation of DNA-functionalized QDs enabled a quantitative fluorescent readout, mediated by Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based interaction with the DNA signal probes. Our approach splits the reaction in two, performing the enzyme-mediated amplification and QD-based detection steps separately such that each reaction could be optimized for performance of the active components. Target recycling gave ca. 3 orders of magnitude amplification, yielding highly sensitive detection with a limit of 42 fM (or 1.2 amol) of miR-148, with excellent selectivity versus mismatched sequences and other miRNAs. Furthermore, we used an alternative target (miR-21) and FRET pair for direct and absolute quantification of miR-21 in RNA extracts from human cancer and normal cell lines.

Applying strand displacement amplification to quantum dots-based fluorescent lateral flow assay strips for HIV-DNA detection

Up to now, the colloidal gold labeling immunochromatographic test strip is a mature and applicable technology. However, different from the conventional gold nanoparticle, quantum dot (QD) possesses larger specific surface area and better biocompatibility. So, as a novel nanomaterial, QD is capable of assembling more biomolecule which could enhance the sensitivity and accuracy of strips by rationality. Besides, strand displacement amplification was drawn into our test strips in this paper, this assumption made HIV-DNA recycling many times and converting it to plentiful QD-dsDNA (double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid), where after these nano-structures would be captured by test zone. Meanwhile, the suggested scheme eliminated the hook effect owing to the target drop out of the incorporation on test zone, and any nucleotide sequence or substance which has aptamers can work as the target, such as carcinoembryonic antigen or mycotoxin. This assay realized the detection limit of as low as 0.76 pM (S/N = 3) and the detection range of 1 pM to 10 nM. In the end, we made use of this fluorescent lateral flow assay strips with great reproducibility for detecting HIV-DNA in human serum, that attested this method could be applied to practical application prospectively.

Quantum dots: from fluorescence to chemiluminescence, bioluminescence, electrochemiluminescence, and electrochemistry

During the past decade, nanotechnology has become one of the major forces driving basic and applied research. As a novel class of inorganic fluorochromes, research into quantum dots (QDs) has become one of the fastest growing fields of nanotechnology today. QDs are made of a semiconductor material with tunable physical dimensions as well as unique optoelectronic properties, and have attracted multidisciplinary research efforts to further their potential bioanalytical applications. Recently, numerous optical properties of QDs, such as narrow emission band peaks, broad absorption spectra, intense signals, and remarkable resistance to photobleaching, have made them biocompatible and sensitive for biological assays. In this review, we give an overview of these exciting materials and describe their potential, especially in biomolecules analysis, including fluorescence detection, chemiluminescence detection, bioluminescence detection, electrochemiluminescence detection, and electrochemical detection. Finally, conclusions are made, including highlighting some critical challenges remaining and a perspective of how this field can be expected to develop in the future.

Aptamer-based fluorescence-quenching lateral flow strip for rapid detection of mercury (II) ion in water samples

Divalent mercury ion (Hg²⁺) is one of the most common and stable forms of mercury pollution. In this study, a skillfully designed lateral flow strip (LFS) was developed for sensitive detection of Hg²⁺ in river water samples. Aptamer, a specific oligonucleotide probe, was used to selectively identify and target Hg²⁺ instead of antibody in traditional immunechromatographic strips; and the fluorescence-quenching system was used to generate positive and low background florescence signals in the competitive-likely LFS. The linear detection range of the LFS for Hg²⁺ was 0.13 ng mL^-1 to 4 ng mL^-1 and the limit of detection (LOD) was 0.13 ng mL^-1. This test provided results in 15 min and demonstrated high specificity. For detection of Hg²⁺ in river water, the results were consistent with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry measurements. The aptamer-based fluorescence-quenching LFS was shown to provide a reliable, accurate method for rapid detection of mercury contamination. Graphical Abstract The principle of the aptamer-based fluorescence-quenching LFS.

Fluorescently labelled multiplex lateral flow immunoassay based on cadmium-free quantum dots

A sensitive tool for simultaneous qualitative detection of two mycotoxins based on use of non-cadmium quantum dots (QDs) is presented for the first time. QDs have proven themselves as promising fluorescent labels for biolabeling and chemical analysis. With an increasing global tendency to regulate and limit the use of hazardous elements, indium phosphide (InP) QDs are highlighted as environmentally-friendly alternatives to the highly efficient and well-studied, but potentially toxic Cd- and Pb-based QDs. Here, we developed water-soluble InP QDs-based fluorescent nanostructures. They consisted of core/shell InP/ZnS QDs enrobed in a silica shell that allowed the water solubility (QD@SiO₂). Then we applied the QD@SiO₂ as novel, silica shell-encapsulated fluorescent labels in immunoassays for rapid multiplexed screening. Two mycotoxins, zearalenone and deoxynivalenol, were simultaneously detected in maize and wheat, since the two QD@SiO₂ labelled conjugates emit at two different, individually detectable wavelengths. The cutoff values for the simultaneous determination were 50 and 500μgkg^-1 for zearalenone and deoxynivalenol, respectively, in both maize and wheat. Liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used to confirm the result.

Use of quantum dot beads-labeled monoclonal antibody to improve the sensitivity of a quantitative and simultaneous immunochromatographic assay for neuron specific enolase and carcinoembryonic antigen

Detection of multiplex tumor markers was of great importance for cancer diagnosis. Immunochromatographic test strip (ICTS) was the most frequently-used point-of-care detection means. Herein, a convenient and fast method for simultaneous quantitative detection of neuron specific enolase (NSE) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was developed based on ICTS using quantum dot beads (QBs) as marking material. Good monodispersity, high colloidal stability and carboxyl-modified (COOH-) QBs were used. For this method, two test lines were applied to the NC membrane for simultaneous analysis of CEA and NSE respectively. The ideal limit of CEA and NSE detection was 0.0378ng/mL and 0.0426ng/mL with scarcely any cross-reactivity. Moreover, the fluorescent signal intensity of the nitrocellulose membrane could be easily read out in the cooperation of the "Handing" system without professional operators. The possible clinical utilization of this platform was demonstrated by detecting 100 clinic human serums. The result showed that the platform had sensitivity of 99% and 97% for CEA and NSE, while the specificity was 97% and 100% respectively. Our results indicated that the QBs based ICTS not only owning the ability of sensitive and specific simultaneous detection of CEA and NSE, but also showing the potential in developing this ICTS into a routine part of early lung cancer diagnosis.

A new immunoassay of serum antibodies against Peste des petits ruminants virus using quantum dots and a lateral-flow test strip

A fast and ultrasensitive test-strip system combining quantum dots (QDs) with a lateral-flow immunoassay strip (LFIAS) was established for detection of Peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) antibody. The highly luminescent water-soluble carboxyl-functionalized QDs were used as the signal output and were conjugated to streptococcal protein G (SPG), which was capable of binding to immunoglobulin G (IgG) from many species through an amide bond to capture the target PPRV IgGs. The PPRV N protein, which was immobilized on the detection zone of the test strip, was expressed by transfecting recombinant Bacmid-PPRV-N with Lipofect into Sf9 insect cells. When exposed to PPRV IgG, QD-SPG bound to PPRV N protein, resulting in the formation of a complex that subsequently produced a bright fluorescent band in response to 365 nm ultraviolet excitation. Sensitivity evaluation showed that the QD-LFIAS limit of detection (LOD) for PPRV antibody was superior to competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (c-ELISA) and the immunochromatographic strip. No cross reaction was observed when the positive sera of bluetongue virus, canine distemper virus, goat pox virus, and foot-and-mouth disease virus were tested. Further evaluation using field samples indicated that the diagnostic specificity and sensitivity of the QD-LFIAS was 99.47 and 97.67 %, respectively, with excellent agreement between QD-LFIAS and c-ELISA. The simple analysis step and objective results that can be obtained within 15 min indicate that this new method shows great promise for rapid, sensitive detection of PPRV IgG for onsite, point-of-care diagnosis and post vaccination evaluation (PVE). Graphical Abstract Ultrasensitive fluorescent QD immunochromotography in combination with recombinant PPRV N protein could be used to detect PPRV antibody in serum.

Multiplexed detection of influenza A virus subtype H5 and H9 via quantum dot-based immunoassay

A quantum dot-based lateral flow immunoassay system (QD-LFIAS) was developed to simultaneously detect both influenza A virus subtypes H5 and H9. Water-soluble carboxyl-functionalized quantum dots (QDs) were used as fluorescent tags. The QDs were conjugated to specific influenza A virus subtype H5 and H9 antibodies via an amide bond. When influenza A virus subtype H5 or H9 was added to the QD-LFIAS, the QD-labeled antibodies specifically bound to the H5 or H9 subtype viruses and were then captured by the coating antibodies at test line 1 or 2 to form a sandwich complex. This complex produced a bright fluorescent band in response to 365 nm ultraviolet excitation. The intensity of fluorescence can be detected using an inexpensive, low-maintenance instrument, and the virus concentration directly correlates with the fluorescence intensity. The detection limit of the QD-LFIAS for influenza A virus subtype H5 was 0.016 HAU, and the detection limit of the QD-LFIAS for influenza A virus subtype H9 was 0.25 HAU. The specificity and reproducibility were good. The simple analysis step and objective results that can be obtained within 15 min indicate that this QD-LFIAS is a highly efficient test that can be used to monitor and prevent both Influenza A virus subtypes H5 and H9.