biostudies-literatureBazsefidpar SUniversidad de OviedoEuropean CommissionConsejería de Educación y Ciencia del Principado de AsturiasConsejería de Educación y Ciencia del Principado de Asturias (Spain)264https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC10279566biostudies-literatureUnknown190(7)The aim of this study was to develop a sensitive lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) for the rapid detection of Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7, a pathogen contributor to diseases and fatalities worldwide. Au nanoparticles with high stability, uniform size, and shape were synthesized and coated with heterobifunctional PEG polymer with carboxyl groups, and they were bioconjugated to be used as label in sandwich-LFIA. Then, a silver enhancement strategy was developed as an accessible, rapid, and cost-effective approach for signal amplification to reduce the limit of detection (LOD). The optimal results were achieved when a solution of silver nitrate and hydroquinone/citrate buffer was added to the strips for 4 min. This led to a decrease in the visual LOD from 2 × 10⁶ (CFU mL<sup>-Mikrochimica actaRapid and sensitive detection of E. coli O157:H7 by lateral flow immunoassay and silver enhancement.PMC10279566813439SV-PA-21-AYUD/2021/52132Serrano-Pertierra ECalvo ASBazsefidpar SMatos MGutierrez GBlanco-Lopez MCfalseRapid and sensitive detection of E. coli O157:H7 by lateral flow immunoassay and silver enhancement.The aim of this study was to develop a sensitive lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) for the rapid detection of Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7, a pathogen contributor to diseases and fatalities worldwide. Au nanoparticles with high stability, uniform size, and shape were synthesized and coated with heterobifunctional PEG polymer with carboxyl groups, and they were bioconjugated to be used as label in sandwich-LFIA. Then, a silver enhancement strategy was developed as an accessible, rapid, and cost-effective approach for signal amplification to reduce the limit of detection (LOD). The optimal results were achieved when a solution of silver nitrate and hydroquinone/citrate buffer was added to the strips for 4 min. This led to a decrease in the visual LOD from 2 × 10⁶ (CFU mL<sup>-2023-01-01T00:00:00Z2023 Jun2025-05-29T16:07:05.012Z2025-04-06T12:57:17.862ZS-EPMC102795663733681810.1007/s00604-023-05834-8