Upconverting Nanoparticle-based Enhanced Luminescence Lateral-Flow Assay for Urinary Biomarker Monitoring

Author(s):Show less -

Arai, Marylyn Setsuko ; Kim, Hyunho ; Pascavis, Madeleine ; Cha, Baekdong ; Brambilla, Gabriel ; Cho, Young Kwan ; Park, Jinho ; Vilela, Raquel R. C. ; de Camargo, Andrea S. S. ; Castro, Cesar M. ; Lee, Hakho

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES; v. 16, n. 29, p. 9-pg., 2024-07-09.

Abstract

Development of efficient portable sensors for accurately detecting biomarkers is crucial for early disease diagnosis, yet remains a significant challenge. To address this need, we introduce the enhanced luminescence lateral-flow assay, which leverages highly luminescent upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) alongside a portable reader and a smartphone app. The sensor's efficiency and versatility were shown for kidney health monitoring as a proof of concept. We engineered Er3+- and Tm3+-doped UCNPs coated with multiple layers, including an undoped inert matrix shell, a mesoporous silica shell, and an outer layer of gold (UCNP@mSiO(2)@Au). These coatings synergistically enhance emission by over 40-fold and facilitate biomolecule conjugation, rendering UCNP@mSiO(2)@Au easy to use and suitable for a broad range of bioapplications. Employing these optimized nanoparticles in lateral-flow assays, we successfully detected two acute kidney injury-related biomarkers & horbar;kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL)& horbar;in urine samples. Using our sensor platform, KIM-1 and NGAL can be accurately detected and quantified within the range of 0.1 to 20 ng/mL, boasting impressively low limits of detection at 0.28 and 0.23 ng/mL, respectively. Validating our approach, we analyzed clinical urine samples, achieving biomarker concentrations that closely correlated with results obtained via ELISA. Importantly, our system enables biomarker quantification in less than 15 min, underscoring the performance of our novel UCNP-based approach and its potential as reliable, rapid, and user-friendly diagnostics. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/07793-6 - CEPIV - Center for Teaching, Research and Innovation in Glass
• Grantee: Edgar Dutra Zanotto
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research, Innovation and Dissemination Centers - RIDC
• FAPESP's process: 21/01170-3 - Glassy and ceramic multifunctional luminescent nanosystems for applications in thermometry and oximetry
• Grantee: Pedro Felipe Garcia Martins da Costa
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 19/12588-9 - Optical biosensors for the fast detection of pathogenic bacteria
• Grantee: Marylyn Setsuko Arai
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 21/11531-3 - Nanomaterials-based portable sensors for infectious diseases and cancer detection
• Grantee: Marylyn Setsuko Arai
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate