Science Daily November 25, 2020
Researchers in the UK investigated fluorescent nanodiamonds as an ultrasensitive label for in vitro diagnostics, using a microwave field to modulate emission intensity and frequency-domain analysis to separate the signal from background autofluorescence, which typically limits sensitivity. Focusing on the widely used, low-cost lateral flow format as an exemplar, they achieved a detection limit of 8.2 × 10−19 molar for a biotin–avidin model, 105 times more sensitive than that obtained using gold nanoparticles. Single-copy detection of HIV-1 RNA can be achieved with the addition of a 10-minute isothermal amplification step. This ultrasensitive quantum diagnostics platform is applicable to numerous diagnostic test formats and diseases and has the potential to transform early diagnosis of disease for the benefit of patients and populations…read more. TECHNICAL ARTICLE
Schematic illustration of the use of FNDs in LFAs. Credit: Nature volume 587, pages588–593 (2020)