Heat Stable Nanoparticle Amplified Immunoassays

The theater of operation for DoD immunoassays typically requires them to be sensitive, stable at temperatures up to 35 oC for up to two years, and be low power or power-free. Although enzyme-based assays are very sensitive, enzymes are usually unstable under such storage conditions. We propose a new photocatalytic nanoparticle-based immunoassay method that provides the amplification associated with enzyme-based assays but without the instability problems associated with enzymes. The method can be readily adapted to lateral flow immunoassays, which provide convenient testing in the field, but often suffer from poor sensitivity. In addition, the technology can also be used in biosensors and lab-based immunoassays.