Compact and Filter-Free Luminescence Biosensor for Mobile in Vitro Diagnoses

Abstract

We report a sensitive and versatile biosensing approach, LUCID (luminescence compact in-vitro diagnostics), for quantitative molecular and cellular analyses. LUCID uses upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) as luminescent reporters in mutually exclusive photo-excitation and readout sequences implemented on a smartphone. The strategy improves imaging signal-to-noise ratios, eliminating interference from excitation sources and minimizing autofluorescence, and thus enables filter-less imaging. Here we developed a miniaturized detection system and optimized UCNPs for the system and biological applications. Nanoparticle luminescence lifetime was extended by controlling particles' structure and composition. When tested with a range of biological targets, LUCID achieved high detect sensitivity (0.5 pM for protein and 0.1 pM for nucleic acids), differentiated bacterial samples, and allowed profiling of cells. In proof-of-concept clinical use, LUICD demonstrated effective screening of cancer cells in cervical brushing *

Photoluminescent Nanoparticles for Chemical and Biological Analysis and Imaging

“…The technology was also applied to screening of clinical cervical specimens for cancer risk. To compensate for the low upconversion quantum yield of the UCNPs, images were integrated over multiple excitation and acquisition cycles …”

“…(D) Comparison of signal-to-background ratios for smartphone-based fluorescence imaging (concurrent excitation and image acquisition) versus time-gated (LUCID) imaging. Adapted from ref . Copyright 2019 American Chemical Society.…”

Engineering DNA on the Surface of Upconversion Nanoparticles for Bioanalysis and Therapeutics

“…Besides the anti-Stokes emission, the UCNPs have another distinct optical feature of a long luminescent lifetime. Taking advantage of this feature, the Lee group reported a versatile and sensitive biosensor by luminescent compact in vitro diagnostics (LUCID) for in vitro mobile diagnoses . LUCID adopted UCNPs with a long luminescent lifetime as the signal reporter, and DNA, or antibodies, was adopted as the recognition group.…”

“…Taking advantage of this feature, the Lee group reported a versatile and sensitive biosensor by luminescent compact in vitro diagnostics (LUCID) for in vitro mobile diagnoses. 87 LUCID adopted UCNPs with a long luminescent lifetime as the signal reporter, and DNA, or antibodies, was adopted as the recognition group. The luminescent lifetime of as-synthesized UCNPs was as long as 5 ms. Usually, the autofluorescence from the environment attenuates to elimination in 20 ns.…”

Nanomaterial-based biosensor developing as a route toward in vitro diagnosis of early ovarian cancer

“…It has been a major focus of the field to develop methods with ultra-high sensitivity (refers to the responsiveness of a method to the substance to be tested, can be reflected by the lowest detection limit and the linear range), and specificity (refers to the selectivity and anti-interference ability of a method to the substance to be tested, can be reflected by the accuracy of detection). In recent years, the research of nanomaterials in the field of IVD technology has made great progress in improving the efficiency of early diagnosis of OC, while at the same time effectively overcoming the drawbacks in early diagnosis of OC [ 8 , 9 ]. Nanomaterials have a much larger specific surface area than bulk materials to be modified with different molecules.…”