7 Advancements
There are some foremost advancements in lateral flow assay in recent years. These
are as follows:
• Better and improved systems for quantification of analyte have been developed.
• Techniques and strategies to enhance the signal in which silver is used have
been adopted [48]. Other nanoparticles like colloidal gold nanoparticles are also
used to enhance the signal and this could be achieved by using light emitting
diodes, laser where the contrast signal can be enhanced up to 1000-fold [94].
• By using several kinds of magnetic, microspheres and immune based
nanoparticles sensitivity and range of detection of immunoassay has been
reduced to 0.1 ng/ml.
• Simultaneous detection techniques have also been emerged in past few years.
These include simultaneous detection of two proteins by using two conjugated
pads where antibodies and antigens are detected simultaneously using colloidal
gold NPs. Computational methods have been developed for sensing in which
‘OR’ and ‘AND’ logic gates are employed.
8 Conclusion
ICS based sensors have demonstrated to be rapid, cheap and portable tools to detect
various water pollutants including toxic metal ions, pesticides, other organic and
inorganic pollutants, pathogenic microorganisms. Although earlier it was mainly
used for the detection of different bio-molecules, however its simplicity, quick
response time and ease of operation trigger its applicability in other areas including
the environment monitoring. The use of ICS based sensing does not require any
sophisticated instrument and can be visualized even with naked eye, thus does not
require any trained personnel. To increase the sensitivity of the ICS based sensing,
it is coupled with different nanomaterials, such as, gold NP, carbon QDs, fluorescent materials etc. Besides, the sensitivity of the ICS can also be increased by
tuning the microfluidics within the ICS. With the developing technology, new
materials and strategies will be provided for further development of ICS-based
sensing. Although there are only few studies for the simultaneous detection of
multiple analytes, we believe new technologies will emerge in near future to
develop multiparameter ICS for environmental monitoring. Further improvement in
this area of research along with the integration of ICS with smart phones for
quantitative detection will certainly direct the presence of ICS based sensors at
every home in future for onsite detection of pollutants and environment monitoring.
Acknowledgements DST, Govt. of India is acknowledged for financial assistance through
INSPIRE Faculty Award (DST/INSPIRE/04/2016/000293).
248
M. Pant et al.
There are some foremost advancements in lateral flow assay in recent years. These
are as follows:
• Better and improved systems for quantification of analyte have been developed.
• Techniques and strategies to enhance the signal in which silver is used have
been adopted [48]. Other nanoparticles like colloidal gold nanoparticles are also
used to enhance the signal and this could be achieved by using light emitting
diodes, laser where the contrast signal can be enhanced up to 1000-fold [94].
• By using several kinds of magnetic, microspheres and immune based
nanoparticles sensitivity and range of detection of immunoassay has been
reduced to 0.1 ng/ml.
• Simultaneous detection techniques have also been emerged in past few years.
These include simultaneous detection of two proteins by using two conjugated
pads where antibodies and antigens are detected simultaneously using colloidal
gold NPs. Computational methods have been developed for sensing in which
‘OR’ and ‘AND’ logic gates are employed.
8 Conclusion
ICS based sensors have demonstrated to be rapid, cheap and portable tools to detect
various water pollutants including toxic metal ions, pesticides, other organic and
inorganic pollutants, pathogenic microorganisms. Although earlier it was mainly
used for the detection of different bio-molecules, however its simplicity, quick
response time and ease of operation trigger its applicability in other areas including
the environment monitoring. The use of ICS based sensing does not require any
sophisticated instrument and can be visualized even with naked eye, thus does not
require any trained personnel. To increase the sensitivity of the ICS based sensing,
it is coupled with different nanomaterials, such as, gold NP, carbon QDs, fluorescent materials etc. Besides, the sensitivity of the ICS can also be increased by
tuning the microfluidics within the ICS. With the developing technology, new
materials and strategies will be provided for further development of ICS-based
sensing. Although there are only few studies for the simultaneous detection of
multiple analytes, we believe new technologies will emerge in near future to
develop multiparameter ICS for environmental monitoring. Further improvement in
this area of research along with the integration of ICS with smart phones for
quantitative detection will certainly direct the presence of ICS based sensors at
every home in future for onsite detection of pollutants and environment monitoring.
Acknowledgements DST, Govt. of India is acknowledged for financial assistance through
INSPIRE Faculty Award (DST/INSPIRE/04/2016/000293).
248
M. Pant et al.