Exploring carbohydrate binding module fusions and Fab fragments in a cellulose-based lateral flow immunoassay for detection of cystatin C

Enhanced detection of Cystatin C for predicting adverse outcomes in gestational diabetes mellitus using a point-of-care immunosensor

Cystatin C (Cys-C) is emerging as a critical biomarker for assess gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), a condition that significantly impacts maternal and fetal health. In this study, we developed a novel label-free electrochemical immunosensor designed for point-of-care applications, offering lower reagent consumption and rapid detection of Cys-C in pregnant women with GDM. Compared to traditional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), the sensor demonstrates enhanced sensitivity, reduced reagent usage, and faster detection. In a cohort study involving 150 pregnant women with GDM and 150 healthy controls, serum Cys-C levels were analyzed using the developed sensor. Serum samples were collected and analyzed for Cys-C levels using our immunosensor. Serum Cys-C levels were significantly elevated in GDM patients compared to controls (P < 0.05), and higher levels were observed in GDM complicated by pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) and fetal growth restriction (FGR). Furthermore, elevated Cys-C levels were positively correlated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, including premature birth, fetal distress, and cesarean section (P < 0.05). This study underscores the potential of Cys-C as a reliable biomarker for GDM and highlights the advantages of our novel sensor for quick, accurate, and scalable GDM diagnosis and management.

Harnessing cellulose-binding protein domains for the development of functionalized cellulose materials

Cellulosic materials are attracting increasing research interest because of their abundance, biocompatibility, and biodegradability, making them suitable in multiple industrial and medical applications. Functionalization of cellulose is usually required to improve or expand its properties to meet the requirements of different applications. Cellulose-binding domains (CBDs) found in various proteins have been shown to be powerful tools in the functionalization of cellulose materials. In this review, we firstly introduce the structural characteristics of commonly used CBDs belonging to carbohydrate-binding module families 1, 2 and 3. Then, we summarize four main kinds of methodologies for employing CBDs to modify cellulosic materials (i.e., CBD only, genetic fusion, non-covalent linkage and covalent linkage). Via different approaches, CBDs have been used to improve the material properties of cellulose, immobilize enzymes for biocatalysis, and design various detection tools. To achieve industrial applications, researches for lowering the production cost of CBDs, improving their performance (e.g., stability), and expanding their application scenarios are still in need.

Significance of the antibody orientation for the lateral flow immunoassays: A mini-review

Lateral flow immunoassays (LFIAs) are well-established and broadly commercialized tools in the field of point-of-care testing due to their simplicity, rapidity, cost-effectiveness, and low requirements for users and equipment. However, the insensitivity and the possibility of producing inaccurate results associated with conventional LFIAs have impeded their wide-ranging implementation, especially for monitoring ultra-trace level of analytes. Moreover, the heterogeneous distribution of amino acids on the surface of antibody (Ab) results in a lack of precise control over their orientation, which ultimately leads to unsatisfactory detection performance. To address those concerns, herein we provide an overview of the emerging efforts to prepare well-established LFIAs from the perspective of orientation manipulation of immobilized Abs on the nanoprobes or membranes. The preparation of excellent nanoprobes with Abs being oriented immobilized, consisting of the nanoprobe types, Ab types, and their conjugation chemistries, are reviewed. Followed by the introduction of efforts highlight the importance of directionally immobilized Ab on the membrane. The effects of Ab orientation on the analytical performance of LFIA platforms in terms of sensitivity, specificity, rapidity, reliability, cost-effectiveness, and stability are also summarized. Finally, the future development and challenges of Ab-oriented immobilization-assisted LFIAs are also discussed.