A fluorescence-based lateral flow immunoassay using AIEgen-encapsulated nanoparticles to rapidly and sensitively detect pro-gastrin-releasing peptide

A fluorescence lateral flow immunoassay (F-LFIA) is presented using nanoparticles with encapsulated molecules whose emission is caused by aggregation as the fluorescent label to quantitatively detect gastrin-releasing peptide precursor (proGRP) in serum. The detection system was optimized to achieve a broad linear detection range of 10 ~ 5000 pg/mL and a detection limit of 6 pg/mL for F-LFIA. The proposed method exhibited good sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility. The performance and applicability of the F-LFIA were evaluated in the analysis of 183 human serum samples, and the results were strongly correlated with those of the electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. The proposed F-LFIA can serve as a precise and rapid detection method to detect proGRP and has potential for the early diagnosis of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC).