Authors
Cheonjung Kim, Dohwan Lee, Na Eun Lee, Kang Hyeon Kim, Ho Seung Song, Yina Jeong, Jeong Hoon Lee, Yong Kyoung Yoo
Published in
Biomedical engineering letters. Volume 16. Issue 5. Pages 1407-1417. Epub Aug 18, 2026.
Abstract
Lateral flow assays (LFAs) are widely used for point-of-care diagnostics because of their simplicity and affordability. However, their sensitivity remains insufficient for detecting low-abundance biomarkers, which limits their applicability in early disease detection and in resource-constrained environments. This study investigates whether a power-free passive preconcentration cassette (PPC) can enhance LFA sensitivity without compromising usability. A PPC that integrates seamlessly with commercial LFA housings was developed to enhance detection sensitivity without compromising usability. The PPC employs a Nafion-coated pin array to enable ion-selective transport during capillary-driven flow, creating a localized enrichment zone. Geometric optimization of the pin-array architecture revealed a hybrid design that balances ionic polarization with flow uniformity. When applied to PPC-LFAs for influenza A and hepatitis C detection, the platform achieved approximately a fourfold improvement in sensitivity while maintaining specificity and stable fluidic performance. This ion-selective, self-powered preconcentration strategy provides a broadly applicable, instrument-free means of improving LFA sensitivity, making it especially suitable for decentralized and self-administered diagnostic applications.
The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s13534-026-00598-5.
PMID:
42801000
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 27 Sep 2026.
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