Immunochromatography in general and the modern type of lateral flow assays in particular can be considered a breakthrough in diagnostics. This method uses immunoassays and chromatographic separation in a rapid, accurate, and easy-to-use system for the identification of the target molecules. Immunochromatography has evolved over the years to become one of the most popular diagnostic tools; the following are some of the events in the history of immunochromatography.
Immunochromatography is based on the concept of immunoassays which has its roots in the mid-twentieth century. The principles of immunoassays include the use of antibodies that selectively bind to specific antigens to identify the presence of several substances. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) which was developed in the 1970s was one of the first techniques that showed that immunoassays could be used for diagnostic purposes.
Another analytical method that was under development during this period was chromatography – a method of separating compounds according to their ability to move through a medium. This was the beginning of the idea of developing a new form of diagnostic test, which includes immunoassays in conjunction with chromatographic methods. This integration was meant to enhance the aspect of identifying the target analytes in a more effective and a much more simpler way.
Immunochromatography has come a long way, especially in the late 1980s with new advancements in the technology being developed. Scientists started to conduct a study on the lateral flow assays (LFIA) which employed a strip to allow the sample to travel through various zones of the strip. The lateral flow assay was developed to incorporate the selectivity of immunoassays with the operational characteristics of chromatography.
Among the novelties that were introduced, the most significant one was the use of colloidal gold particles as the detection markers. Such nanoparticles could be linked to antibodies and would change color when the target analyte is present. Such visual signals helped in the interpretation of results without the use of additional laboratory analytical instruments.
The prototypes of the lateral flow assays were developed in the early 1990s, and these products started to be commercialized in the same period. The first lateral flow tests that were available in the market were mainly employed for pregnancy diagnosis. These tests were successful in proving the efficiency of this technique for point-of-care diagnostic applications.
Immunochromatography technology has been significantly developed during the 1990s and at the beginning of the 2000s. It is worth mentioning that, lateral flow assay has become more sensitive and specific due to better conjugation of antibodies, better test strip materials, and better manufacturing process.
New capabilities of multiplexing were also identified as a possibility of detecting several analytes on one test strip. This advancement also extended the use of lateral flow assays from pregnancy and infectious diseases diagnostic to areas such as food safety and environmental samples.
As of late, there has been an increasing number of cases where lateral flow assays are combined with digital technologies. With the help of smartphone-based platforms and digital readers, it is possible to quantify test results and provide more detailed analyses. This integration improves the efficiency and effectiveness of immunochromatography tests, which is even more important for point-of-care applications.
Future advancements in nanotechnology are anticipated to improve the efficiency of colloidal gold immunochromatography. For instance, a change in the type of nanoparticles used in the test strips or the materials used for the strip may enhance the sensitivity and minimize interferences.
There is an expectation of the continued development of digital integration with additional enhancements of the smartphone-based platforms and digital readers offering higher accuracy and detail in data analysis. This will further enhance the portability of the immunochromatography tests, making them easier to use.
Thus, it can be assumed that with the further development of technology, the possibilities for using lateral flow assays will increase. New assays may be developed for emerging areas like more targeted approaches like pharmacogenomics, monitoring of the environment, and other new and complicated multiplex scenarios.
Immunochromatography, and even more so through the invention of lateral flow assays, is a remarkable improvement in diagnostic tools. Derived from the combination of immunoassay principles and chromatography, this technology has revolutionized point-of-care diagnostics. Because of its benefits such as being speedy, easy to use, and cheaper, it has been used in medical diagnosis, food analysis, and environmental management. However, there are certain limitations to the method, and it is for this reason that nanotechnology and computer science continue to evolve in their ability to improve the immunochromatography method. Thus, it will persist as a key element of the rapid and affordable diagnostic testing in the future due to the advancement of the technology.
Immunochromatography; in particular, the contemporary version of lateral flow assays, was invented in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The technology has since developed and is used broadly in different diagnostic services.
The main benefits include; Quick results, simplicity, affordability, and compactness. These characteristics make immunochromatography very suitable for Point of Care testing and field application.
Immuno-chromatography is widely employed in medical diagnostics (for instance pregnancy and infection detection), food security analysis (for instance detection of adulterants), and environmental evaluation (for instance pollution detection).
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