Geometric Flow Control Lateral Flow Immunoassay Devices (GFC-LFIDs): A New Dimension to Enhance Analytical Performance

The nitrocellulose (NC) membrane based lateral flow immunoassay device (LFID) is one of the most important and widely used biosensor platforms for point-of-care (PoC) diagnostics. However, the analytical performance of LFID has limitations and its optimization is restricted to the bioassay chemistry...

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Main Authors: E. Eriksson, J. Lysell, H. Larsson, K. Y. Cheung, D. Filippini, W. C. Mak
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 2019-01-01
Series:Research
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.34133/2019/8079561
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author E. Eriksson
J. Lysell
H. Larsson
K. Y. Cheung
D. Filippini
W. C. Mak
author_facet E. Eriksson
J. Lysell
H. Larsson
K. Y. Cheung
D. Filippini
W. C. Mak
author_sort E. Eriksson
collection DOAJ
description The nitrocellulose (NC) membrane based lateral flow immunoassay device (LFID) is one of the most important and widely used biosensor platforms for point-of-care (PoC) diagnostics. However, the analytical performance of LFID has limitations and its optimization is restricted to the bioassay chemistry, the membrane porosity, and the choice of biolabel system. These bottom neck technical issues resulted from the fact that the conventional LFID design principle has not evolved for many years, which limited the LFID for advanced biosensor applications. Here we introduce a new dimension for LFID design and optimization based on geometric flow control (GFC) of NC membranes, leading to highly sensitive GFC-LFID. This novel approach enables comprehensive flow control via different membrane geometric features such as the width (w) and the length (l) of a constriction, as well as its input angle (θ1) and output angle (θ2). The GFC-LFID (w=0.5 mm, l=7 mm, θ1= 60°, θ2= 45°) attained a 10-fold increase in sensitivity for detection of interleukin-6 (IL-6), compared with conventional LFID, whereas reducing by 10-fold the antibody consumption. The GFC-LFID detects IL-6 over a linear range of 0.1–10 ng/mL with a limit of detection (LoD) of 29 pg/mL, which even outperforms some commercial IL-6 LFIDs. Such significant improvement is attained by pure geometric control of the NC membrane, without additives, that only relaying on a simple high throughput laser ablation procedure suitable for integration on regular large-scale manufacturing of GFC-LFIDs. Our new development on GFC-LFID with the combination of facile scalable fabrication process, tailored flow control, improved analytical performance, and reduced antibodies consumption is likely to have a significant impact on new design concept for the LFID industry.
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spelling doaj.art-7a78fce21e1e4880a9824456e6b50f7f2024-03-02T19:25:01ZengAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)Research2639-52742019-01-01201910.34133/2019/8079561Geometric Flow Control Lateral Flow Immunoassay Devices (GFC-LFIDs): A New Dimension to Enhance Analytical PerformanceE. Eriksson0J. Lysell1H. Larsson2K. Y. Cheung3D. Filippini4W. C. Mak5Biosensors and Bioelectronics Centre, IFM-Linköping University, 58183 Linköping, SwedenBiosensors and Bioelectronics Centre, IFM-Linköping University, 58183 Linköping, SwedenBiosensors and Bioelectronics Centre, IFM-Linköping University, 58183 Linköping, SwedenIKE-Linköping University, 58185 Linköping, SwedenOptical Devices Laboratory, IFM-Linköping University, 58183 Linköping, SwedenBiosensors and Bioelectronics Centre, IFM-Linköping University, 58183 Linköping, SwedenThe nitrocellulose (NC) membrane based lateral flow immunoassay device (LFID) is one of the most important and widely used biosensor platforms for point-of-care (PoC) diagnostics. However, the analytical performance of LFID has limitations and its optimization is restricted to the bioassay chemistry, the membrane porosity, and the choice of biolabel system. These bottom neck technical issues resulted from the fact that the conventional LFID design principle has not evolved for many years, which limited the LFID for advanced biosensor applications. Here we introduce a new dimension for LFID design and optimization based on geometric flow control (GFC) of NC membranes, leading to highly sensitive GFC-LFID. This novel approach enables comprehensive flow control via different membrane geometric features such as the width (w) and the length (l) of a constriction, as well as its input angle (θ1) and output angle (θ2). The GFC-LFID (w=0.5 mm, l=7 mm, θ1= 60°, θ2= 45°) attained a 10-fold increase in sensitivity for detection of interleukin-6 (IL-6), compared with conventional LFID, whereas reducing by 10-fold the antibody consumption. The GFC-LFID detects IL-6 over a linear range of 0.1–10 ng/mL with a limit of detection (LoD) of 29 pg/mL, which even outperforms some commercial IL-6 LFIDs. Such significant improvement is attained by pure geometric control of the NC membrane, without additives, that only relaying on a simple high throughput laser ablation procedure suitable for integration on regular large-scale manufacturing of GFC-LFIDs. Our new development on GFC-LFID with the combination of facile scalable fabrication process, tailored flow control, improved analytical performance, and reduced antibodies consumption is likely to have a significant impact on new design concept for the LFID industry.http://dx.doi.org/10.34133/2019/8079561
spellingShingle E. Eriksson
J. Lysell
H. Larsson
K. Y. Cheung
D. Filippini
W. C. Mak
Geometric Flow Control Lateral Flow Immunoassay Devices (GFC-LFIDs): A New Dimension to Enhance Analytical Performance
Research
title Geometric Flow Control Lateral Flow Immunoassay Devices (GFC-LFIDs): A New Dimension to Enhance Analytical Performance
title_full Geometric Flow Control Lateral Flow Immunoassay Devices (GFC-LFIDs): A New Dimension to Enhance Analytical Performance
title_fullStr Geometric Flow Control Lateral Flow Immunoassay Devices (GFC-LFIDs): A New Dimension to Enhance Analytical Performance
title_full_unstemmed Geometric Flow Control Lateral Flow Immunoassay Devices (GFC-LFIDs): A New Dimension to Enhance Analytical Performance
title_short Geometric Flow Control Lateral Flow Immunoassay Devices (GFC-LFIDs): A New Dimension to Enhance Analytical Performance
title_sort geometric flow control lateral flow immunoassay devices gfc lfids a new dimension to enhance analytical performance
url http://dx.doi.org/10.34133/2019/8079561
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AT hlarsson geometricflowcontrollateralflowimmunoassaydevicesgfclfidsanewdimensiontoenhanceanalyticalperformance
AT kycheung geometricflowcontrollateralflowimmunoassaydevicesgfclfidsanewdimensiontoenhanceanalyticalperformance
AT dfilippini geometricflowcontrollateralflowimmunoassaydevicesgfclfidsanewdimensiontoenhanceanalyticalperformance
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