LMU Team Enhances Rapid Tests with DNA Origami, Amplifying Biomarker Signals Up to 125-Fold

An LMU [Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich] research team has significantly improved conventional test strips by building a nanoscale amplifier from DNA origami. This allows signals from biomarkers which indicate the presence of pathogens or disease to be amplified up to 125-fold. Rapid test strips, also called lateral flow immunoassays (LFIAs), enable easy detection of biomarkers. The LMU team, led by Heini Ijäs, Maximilian J. Urban, and Tim Liedl, has enhanced these tests using DNA origami—folding DNA to create nanoscale structures. This nanoscale amplifier boosts the sensitivity of LFIAs. The technique improves testing for biomarkers, including cardiac troponin I (cTnI), a heart attack marker, and neurofilament light chain (Nfl), a stroke marker. The results were presented in the journal *Nature Communications*. Conventional test strips often fail to detect trace amounts of biomarkers in blood, saliva, or urine, potentially missing early-stage life-threatening conditions like strokes or heart attacks. The new signal amplification system, based on DNA nanotechnology, acts as a molecular amplifier, connecting detection antibodies to a tunable number of signal-generating labels. This results in a sensitivity increase of up to 125-fold. "Our technology allows for unparalleled control over the amplification factor, making LFIA tests more reliable and effective for clinical applications," says Dr. Heini Ijäs. "This innovation has the potential to transform diagnostic testing across a broad range of diseases." The method is adaptable to various biomarkers and samples, including drugs of abuse. The research team believes this will lead to more sensitive, rapid, and accessible diagnostic tools for both clinical and home-based testing. The cost of the molecular amplifier is around one cent per test. "We want to make the technology available to doctors in everyday practice and improve patient care. With the help of a grant from the federal government's EXIST Transfer of Research program, we're now commercializing the technology... We're seeing high demand for our tests in smaller clinics and practices without quick access to laboratories and in emergency departments, where every minute counts," says Dr. Maximilian Urban.