Increasing accuracy and specificity in Biosensing.
Lateral flow assays (LFAs) using monodisperse gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) outperform those with polydisperse particles in key metrics such as reproducibility, sensitivity, and manufacturing consistency. Here's a detailed comparison:
CRITERIA |
MONODISPERSE AuNPs |
POLYDISPERSE AuNPs |
Flow Consistency and Signal Uniformity |
Ensure even flow rates across the membrane, critical for consistent test line developement |
Exhibit irregular flow patterns due to size variation: larger particles migrate slower than smaller ones, causing uneven signal distribution and higher risk of false negatives/positives |
Conjugation Efficiency |
Enable precise antibody coupling due to predictable surface chemistry, minimizing wasted reagents |
Risk uneven antibody loading, as smaller particles have less surface area and larger particles may sterically hinder binding sites |
Reproducibility |
Meeting stringent quality standards (PDI <0.1 by DLS) ensures batch-to-batch consistency critical for clinical diagnostics |
Introduce variability in: (a) antibody conjugation density, (b) flow kinetics, (c) optical signal intensity |
Stability and Aggregation Resistance |
Resist aggregation due to uniform surface charge distribution, maintaining colloidal stability during storage and testing |
Prone to size-dependent aggregation, which can cause false signals or block migration in LFAs (can clog membrane pores) |
Assay Sensitivity |
The uniform size of NPs ensures optimal binding efficiency to target biomolecules. This enhances the signal intensity per particle, improving the assay’s limit of detection |
While polydisperse mixtures (e.g., 20 nm + 50 nm) can enhance signal intensity in some cases, their inconsistent size distribution reduces optical uniformity and complicates result interpretation |
Consistent Optical Properties |
provide with stable and predictable color signal that is critical for visual detection in LFAs |
diffuse colors, reduced readability and assay reliability |
Manufacturing Consistency |
PDI <0.1 ensures reproducibility |
Batch variability complicates scaling |