Paper-based nanobiosensor architectures
We have demonstrated that very simple changes of the Au-NP based LFIA architecture, like increasing the size of both the conjugation and the sample pads, can improve its performance in terms of sensitivity of the assay. Flow speed simulations also corroborate the experimental achievements and can represent useful tools in designing novel lateral flow architectures. The proposed designs (Figure 1) can be easily applied in any type of LF strips without changing their fabrication method; moreover it is simple and cheap, fostering its use for point of care applications, even at the doctor office or in undeveloped countries. Studies using a different method of detection, based on the use of a camera , and the use of a wax printer, in order to define better the shape of the LFIA, have already started in our lab and they will enable decreasing the size of the detection pad enabling a further increment in the sensitivity of the device. [2]