biostudies-literatureAlam NInnovative Research Group Project of the National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaCanada Excellence Research Chairs, Government of CanadaChina Scholarship CouncilPostdoctoral Research Foundation of China8641-8651https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC8286161biostudies-literatureUnknown28(13)Lateral flow assay (LFA) is an important point-of-care (POC) test platform due to the associated portability, on-site testing, and low cost for diagnosis of pathogen infections and disease biomarkers. However, compared to high-end analyzers in hospitals, LFA devices, in particular, paper- based LFA tests, fall short in accuracy. This study focuses on two ways to improve LFAs: (1) using cellulose fibers, rather than glass fibers for a sample pad, and (2) incorporating a one-step simple, facile, and low cost PVA dam into the LFA. Both strategies (cellulose fiber as a sample pad and water dissolvable PVA dam) contributed to delaying the controlled biomolecule's flow through the nitrocellulose membrane's capillary channels resulting in increased bio-recognition time, thus contributing to the eCellulose (London, England)Improving the sensitivity of cellulose fiber-based lateral flow assay by incorporating a water-dissolvable polyvinyl alcohol dam.PMC828616121808132201908610073CRC 9502313082018M633525Ni YHe ZTong LTang RAhsan LAlam NfalseImproving the sensitivity of cellulose fiber-based lateral flow assay by incorporating a water-dissolvable polyvinyl alcohol dam.Lateral flow assay (LFA) is an important point-of-care (POC) test platform due to the associated portability, on-site testing, and low cost for diagnosis of pathogen infections and disease biomarkers. However, compared to high-end analyzers in hospitals, LFA devices, in particular, paper- based LFA tests, fall short in accuracy. This study focuses on two ways to improve LFAs: (1) using cellulose fibers, rather than glass fibers for a sample pad, and (2) incorporating a one-step simple, facile, and low cost PVA dam into the LFA. Both strategies (cellulose fiber as a sample pad and water dissolvable PVA dam) contributed to delaying the controlled biomolecule's flow through the nitrocellulose membrane's capillary channels resulting in increased bio-recognition time, thus contributing to the e2021-01-01T00:00:00Z20212025-05-29T14:37:43.035Z2022-02-10T23:02:35.453ZS-EPMC82861613430533810.1007/s10570-021-04083-3