Towards paper-based biosensors : design considerations for lateral flow assay strips using magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles

Details

Supervisors

Raskin, Jean-Pierre

Faculty

Ecole polytechnique de Louvain

Degree label

Master [120] : ingénieur civil biomédical, à finalité spécialisée

Abstract

The detection of microorganisms is crucial to ensure water and food safety. Performant biodetection methods were developed but they often require time, specific equipment, the presence of skilled personal and all that comes with a cost. These constraints can cause problem in the monitoring of water quality especially in crisis situations (earthquakes, floodings, war, etc.), in remote areas or in low and middle-income countries where there are few or no specific infrastructures and resources allocated to water monitoring. To remedy those downsides, development of point-of-care devices were investigated to match the World Health Organization’s REASSRED criteria ((Real-time connectivity, Ease of specimen collection, Affordable, Sensitive, Specific, User-friendly, Rapid and robust, Equipment-free or simple, and Deliverable to end-users). Among those the lateral flow assay (LFA) stands out. Lateral flow assay is a well-known technology as it is already in use in various applications such as pregnancy test or COVID-19 rapid detection. LFA is cheaper, rapid, end-user friendly and does not require extensive training or bulky equipment. Nonetheless it has higher limit of detection and quantization is complicated. To overcome those limitations several solutions are possible. Here the ultimate goal is to transit from gold nanoparticle to iron oxide nanoparticle. The use of iron oxide nanoparticle as a label in LFA would enable magnetic detection whose limit is thought to be lower and would enable the quantification of the analyte concentration. In this work two lateral flow assay prototypes are designed and tested using iron oxide nanoparticles of 1µm and 10nm diameter as label.