DNA origami signal amplification in lateral flow immunoassays

Abstract Lateral flow immunoassays (LFIAs) enable a rapid detection of analytes in a simple, paper-based test format. Despite their multiple advantages, such as low cost and ease of use, their low sensitivity compared to laboratory-based testing limits their use in e.g. many critical point-of-care a...

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Main Authors: Heini Ijäs, Julian Trommler, Linh Nguyen, Stefan van Rest, Philipp C. Nickels, Tim Liedl, Maximilian J. Urban
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-04-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57385-6
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author Heini Ijäs
Julian Trommler
Linh Nguyen
Stefan van Rest
Philipp C. Nickels
Tim Liedl
Maximilian J. Urban
author_facet Heini Ijäs
Julian Trommler
Linh Nguyen
Stefan van Rest
Philipp C. Nickels
Tim Liedl
Maximilian J. Urban
author_sort Heini Ijäs
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Lateral flow immunoassays (LFIAs) enable a rapid detection of analytes in a simple, paper-based test format. Despite their multiple advantages, such as low cost and ease of use, their low sensitivity compared to laboratory-based testing limits their use in e.g. many critical point-of-care applications. Here, we present a DNA origami-based signal amplification technology for LFIAs. DNA origami is used as a molecularly precise adapter to connect detection antibodies to tailored numbers of signal-generating labels. As a proof of concept, we apply the DNA origami signal amplification in a sandwich-based LFIA for the detection of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) in human serum. We show a 55-fold improvement of the assay sensitivity with 40-nm gold nanoparticle labels and an adjustable signal amplification of up to 125-fold with fluorescent dyes. The technology is compatible with a wide range of existing analytes, labels, and sample matrices, and presents a modular approach for improving the sensitivity and reliability of lateral flow testing.
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spelling doaj-art-c1cea6843c914a75adeade01d93dc3942025-08-20T02:25:41ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-04-0116111010.1038/s41467-025-57385-6DNA origami signal amplification in lateral flow immunoassaysHeini Ijäs0Julian Trommler1Linh Nguyen2Stefan van Rest3Philipp C. Nickels4Tim Liedl5Maximilian J. Urban6Faculty of Physics and Center for NanoScience (CeNS), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität MünchenFaculty of Physics and Center for NanoScience (CeNS), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität MünchenFaculty of Physics and Center for NanoScience (CeNS), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität MünchenFaculty of Physics and Center for NanoScience (CeNS), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität MünchenFaculty of Physics and Center for NanoScience (CeNS), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität MünchenFaculty of Physics and Center for NanoScience (CeNS), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität MünchenFaculty of Physics and Center for NanoScience (CeNS), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität MünchenAbstract Lateral flow immunoassays (LFIAs) enable a rapid detection of analytes in a simple, paper-based test format. Despite their multiple advantages, such as low cost and ease of use, their low sensitivity compared to laboratory-based testing limits their use in e.g. many critical point-of-care applications. Here, we present a DNA origami-based signal amplification technology for LFIAs. DNA origami is used as a molecularly precise adapter to connect detection antibodies to tailored numbers of signal-generating labels. As a proof of concept, we apply the DNA origami signal amplification in a sandwich-based LFIA for the detection of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) in human serum. We show a 55-fold improvement of the assay sensitivity with 40-nm gold nanoparticle labels and an adjustable signal amplification of up to 125-fold with fluorescent dyes. The technology is compatible with a wide range of existing analytes, labels, and sample matrices, and presents a modular approach for improving the sensitivity and reliability of lateral flow testing.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57385-6
spellingShingle Heini Ijäs
Julian Trommler
Linh Nguyen
Stefan van Rest
Philipp C. Nickels
Tim Liedl
Maximilian J. Urban
DNA origami signal amplification in lateral flow immunoassays
Nature Communications
title DNA origami signal amplification in lateral flow immunoassays
title_full DNA origami signal amplification in lateral flow immunoassays
title_fullStr DNA origami signal amplification in lateral flow immunoassays
title_full_unstemmed DNA origami signal amplification in lateral flow immunoassays
title_short DNA origami signal amplification in lateral flow immunoassays
title_sort dna origami signal amplification in lateral flow immunoassays
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57385-6
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