Lateral Flow Test Strip With Hydrogel Anchor Moieties
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current lateral flow immunoassays for detecting SARS-CoV-2 antibodies have limitations due to low specificity and sensitivity, necessitating the development of improved testing methods that can accurately and efficiently identify analytes such as antibodies and antigens.
Innovation Solution
The use of a lateral flow test strip with a hydrogel composition embedded with anchor moieties that immobilize affinity molecules, enhancing the sensitivity and specificity of analyte detection through improved hydrophilicity and controlled orientation of capture molecules, resulting in a significant increase in detection sensitivity, ranging from 10-fold to 200-fold compared to conventional methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional lateral flow immunoassays are used for detecting SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, then the test is quick and cheap, but the sensitivity and specificity are low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the hydrogel composition parameters (incorporating anchor moieties, adjusting monomer ratios, controlling crosslinking density) to enhance the immobilization efficiency of capture molecules. This improves the hydrophilicity and binding capacity of the test strip, thereby increasing detection sensitivity and specificity without fundamentally changing the lateral flow assay structure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining hydrogel matrix with anchor moieties (such as streptavidin, protein A, or protein G) to create an enhanced capture platform. This composite structure allows simultaneous improvement of hydrophilicity for analyte capture and specific binding through the anchor molecules, resolving the contradiction between detection precision and device complexity
2Measurement precision
If more capture molecules are immobilized on the test zone to increase detection sensitivity, then detection sensitivity improves, but the complexity of immobilization and potential non-specific binding increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs intermediary molecules (anchor moieties such as streptavidin, protein A, or protein G) that mediate between the hydrogel matrix and capture molecules. These intermediaries provide controlled immobilization through specific binding interactions, allowing high-density capture molecule placement while maintaining order and reducing non-specific binding, thus improving sensitivity without proportionally increasing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating heterogeneous zones within the test strip - the test zone contains hydrogel with anchor moieties for high-specificity capture, while the control zone has different composition. This localized optimization allows high capture density where needed while maintaining overall test simplicity and avoiding non-specific binding issues in other regions
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The improved hydrogel-based lateral flow strips demonstrate enhanced sensitivity and specificity in detecting analytes, effectively addressing the limitations of existing tests by providing a more accurate and efficient means of identifying antibodies and antigens, such as those related to SARS-CoV-2.
Implementation Method 1
a hydrogel composition deposited on the test zone, comprising an anchor moiety embedded therein
Implementation Method 2
the anchor moiety is pre-selected to bind or react with the affinity molecule, thereby immobilizing the affinity molecule on the test zone
Implementation Method 3
Lateral flow immunoassays (LFIA) have been utilized for testing anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies
Implementation Method 4
the affinity molecule is pre-selected to have a binding specificity with an analyte of interest
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure provides, in one aspect, a platform and related methods to detect diagnostic markers or biomarkers for various diseases. In some embodiments, the platform can be a lateral flow test strip having a hydrogel composition deposited on one or more test zones.