An Undergraduate Independent Study Project: Using a Lateral Flow Assay to Detect Troponin

Abstract

A lateral flow assay was designed and optimized as an independent study project that aimed to develop an assay for the qualitative detection of troponin assay. Lateral flow assays (the classic example being a pregnancy test) have the advantage of being rapid, specific, and user-friendly. They are composed of an absorbent pad, a nitrocellulose membrane, a conjugate pad, and a sample pad with laminated backing. The nitrocellulose membrane is marked with antibodies at a control line and test line, which change color to red when troponin is detected. When there is no troponin, only the control line changes color. We systematically developed the device by conjugating gold nanoparticles to a cardiac troponin antibody and tested for the presence and absence of troponin. The device we assembled allowed for troponin detection at a 500 nanograms per milliliter (ng/ml) concentration with a red color development at both control and test lines.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ellie Schilling

Gifty Blankson ([email protected]) is an assistant professor of chemistry, and Elizabeth (Ellie) Schilling, Joy Sandman, Rida Sait, and April Stich were students at the time of the research, all at Maryville University of St. Louis in St. Louis, Missouri. Kwaku Baryeh was an assistant professor of chemistry at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, Illinois, at the time of research.

Joy Sandman

Gifty Blankson ([email protected]) is an assistant professor of chemistry, and Elizabeth (Ellie) Schilling, Joy Sandman, Rida Sait, and April Stich were students at the time of the research, all at Maryville University of St. Louis in St. Louis, Missouri. Kwaku Baryeh was an assistant professor of chemistry at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, Illinois, at the time of research.

Rida Sait

Gifty Blankson ([email protected]) is an assistant professor of chemistry, and Elizabeth (Ellie) Schilling, Joy Sandman, Rida Sait, and April Stich were students at the time of the research, all at Maryville University of St. Louis in St. Louis, Missouri. Kwaku Baryeh was an assistant professor of chemistry at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, Illinois, at the time of research.

April Stich

Gifty Blankson ([email protected]) is an assistant professor of chemistry, and Elizabeth (Ellie) Schilling, Joy Sandman, Rida Sait, and April Stich were students at the time of the research, all at Maryville University of St. Louis in St. Louis, Missouri. Kwaku Baryeh was an assistant professor of chemistry at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, Illinois, at the time of research.

Kwaku Baryeh

Gifty Blankson ([email protected]) is an assistant professor of chemistry, and Elizabeth (Ellie) Schilling, Joy Sandman, Rida Sait, and April Stich were students at the time of the research, all at Maryville University of St. Louis in St. Louis, Missouri. Kwaku Baryeh was an assistant professor of chemistry at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, Illinois, at the time of research.

Gifty Blankson

Gifty Blankson ([email protected]) is an assistant professor of chemistry, and Elizabeth (Ellie) Schilling, Joy Sandman, Rida Sait, and April Stich were students at the time of the research, all at Maryville University of St. Louis in St. Louis, Missouri. Kwaku Baryeh was an assistant professor of chemistry at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, Illinois, at the time of research.