Peroxidase-mimicking nanomaterials for amplified lateral flow immunoassays
File(s)
Author(s)
Chen, YiYun 'Brian'
Type
Thesis
Abstract
The COVID-19 crisis has demonstrated the need for more sensitive rapid tests. The use of catalytic nanoparticles in lateral flow immunoassays (LFIAs) is an emerging route towards improving the sensitivity of existing colloidal gold labelled rapid tests. Peroxidase-mimicking nanomaterials, or nanozymes in particular, hold promise in enhancing the assay sensitivity to an adequate level comparable to that of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) while maintaining the speed and simplicity of rapid tests. Although many developed nanozymes have exhibited excellent catalytic activity, their use in LFIAs is still emerging and their challenges are minimally addressed in the literature. Having a deeper understanding of the characteristics of nanozymes in the context of signal amplified LFIAs, in turn allows for the development of nanozymes that can facilitate better assay performance. This thesis aims to fill in the missing gaps of developing better nanozymes in the context of LFIAs.
The performance of nanozymes in lateral flow is defined by catalytic activity, immunoreagent presentation and non-specific binding, interlinking factors that often manifest uniquely in the lateral flow assay format. To further understand these factors, this thesis is structured in three main parts: (i) understanding the signal generation and amplification characteristics of nanozymes in a lab-format dip-stick LFIA, and the factors to be considered when transitioning to the clinical-format fully-assembled LFIAs; (ii) identifying key nanozyme parameters, that contribute to assay variability and catalytic activity, such as capping ligand, that determine assay performance; and (iii) developing new approaches to producing larger platinum nanozymes that surpass the upper-size limitation of Au@Pt syntheses to enable new opportunities to improve LFIA signal strength...
The performance of nanozymes in lateral flow is defined by catalytic activity, immunoreagent presentation and non-specific binding, interlinking factors that often manifest uniquely in the lateral flow assay format. To further understand these factors, this thesis is structured in three main parts: (i) understanding the signal generation and amplification characteristics of nanozymes in a lab-format dip-stick LFIA, and the factors to be considered when transitioning to the clinical-format fully-assembled LFIAs; (ii) identifying key nanozyme parameters, that contribute to assay variability and catalytic activity, such as capping ligand, that determine assay performance; and (iii) developing new approaches to producing larger platinum nanozymes that surpass the upper-size limitation of Au@Pt syntheses to enable new opportunities to improve LFIA signal strength...
Version
Open Access
Date Issued
2022-03-16
Date Awarded
01/12/2022
Copyright Statement
Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial Licence
License URL
Advisor
Stevens, Molly
Sponsor
China Scholarship Council
Rosetrees Trust
Publisher Department
Materials
Publisher Institution
Imperial College London
Qualification Level
Doctoral
Qualification Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)