| abstract |
The present invention provides a method and device for concentration and detection of a target analyte in a solution using a pre-coated porous material embedded with ATPS components. In one embodiment, the water soluble nanoparticles include, but are not limited to, silicon dioxide, iron oxide, titanium dioxide, silver oxide and any combinations thereof. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a device comprising ATPS as a concentration module linked with a lateral flow immunoassay (LFA) component as a detection module. In one embodiment, as the sample wicks up the device and ATPS components undergo phase separation, the analytes are concentrated substantially in the leading front, the concentrated analytes are then detected by the LFA module generating visual test results. In one embodiment, the present method and device are used to detect Streptococcus mutans and thereby dental caries. |