Nanotechnology-based strategies for advancing point-of-care lateral flow immunoassays

Point-of-care tests (POCTs) have the potential to transform medical diagnostics by providing rapid and accurate results at the site of patient care. Of the many different types of POCTs being developed, lateral flow immunoassays (LFIAs) are some of the most widely used due to their simplicity, low cost, and fast response time. Combining recent advances in nanotechnology with the LFIAs has drastically improved their performance in terms of their sensitivity, specificity, and limit of detection, as well as their long-term stability. Nanoparticles, both plasmonic and fluorescent, can be functionalized with antibodies/aptamers and other targeting moieties, thereby enabling the detection of a wide range of biomarkers. Here we discuss various strategies, utilizing nanotechnology, to enhance the performance of these LFIAs in order to break the limits of the currently used conventional assays. Successful deployment of these tests will facilitate widespread use, thereby revolutionizing the current diagnostic and treatment practices, as well as curb future pandemics. Extensive utilization of these tests will also reduce the high medical expenditures, which is a central object of health care reform in every country.