Biosensing Advances in Lateral Flow Assays (LFA)

Dear Colleagues,

As low-cost, simple, rapid, and portable detection devices, lateral flow assays (LFAs) are popular in biomedicine, agriculture, food, and environmental sciences for detecting the target analyte(s) in complex mixtures. Perhaps the most commonly used LFA is the single-step test to detect hCG in urine. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in considerable developments in LFAs for home testing, small ambulatory care settings, remote areas, etc.  However, the improvement and further development of established LFA technologies are required to enhance detection sensitivity and selectivity.  Ongoing research is needed to address the three key weaknesses of LFAs; therefore, this SI calls for papers (research or critical review) that address key challenges and opportunities to advance the development of LFAs. The SI inspires papers that cover the following topics:

Novel recognition molecules—Beyond antibodies and nucleic acids, this Special Issue is interested in other recognition molecules, e.g., molecular imprinting polymers.

Improved detection schemes—To date, the detection format of several commercial LFAs is still based on colloidal gold as a label because of its intense color for visualization. However, the detection sensitivity is still insufficient for the earlier detection of some cancer biomarkers or viral infections. The SI is interested in other more sensitive detection schemes based on fluorescent dyes, magnetic or paramagnetic components, and nanomaterials, e.g., quantum dots, thermal contrast, and laser- or light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Of interest is the use of latex, which can be produced in multiple colors for multiplex assays to discriminate numerous detection lines.

LFA sensitivity can also be augmented by smart readers, including smartphones that can differentiate slight signal alterations through non-specific binding and amplify the detection sensitivity significantly over conventional visualization.

Although the detection sensitivity of LFAs can be increased by the extraction/preconcentration of the target analyte, the added step requires several washing cycles and is more prone to error. Thus, this user-unfriendly method is not considered in this SI. 

Multiple assays—LFAs that can test multiple analytes simultaneously under the same conditions. The device in an array format has test lines for different analytes. Multiplexing is important for the analysis of different pathogens, viruses, antigens/antibodies, and pollutants in biological and environmental samples. 

Prof. Dr. John H. T. Luong
Guest Editor

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• antibody
• nucleic acid
• molecular imprinted polymer
• point-of-care testing
• multiplexed assay