Homogeneous and high-density gold unit implanted optical labels for robust and sensitive point-of-care drug detection

Abstract

Controllable integration of gold building blocks into mesoscopic architecture produces improved optical signals with preferable stability for biological sensing. Here, we developed novel optical labels with homogeneous and high-density implanted hydrophobic gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) throughout three-dimensional silica scaffolds. The dendritic silica supports with an extra-large pore size and highly accessible central-radial channels were employed as metal-affinity templates, for anchoring with AuNPs directly from the organic phase. The nano-assemblies exhibited a high unit loading capacity while maintaining the intrinsic optical characteristics of AuNPs. After phase transfer by the alkylsilane intermediate layer and exterior silica shell encapsulation, the nanocomposites revealed an amplified plasmonic absorption signal, excellent colloidal/optical stability and convenient surface functionalization. By integrating the silica labels into the lateral flow immunoassay strip for signal enhancement, the sensitive point-of-care detection of methamphetamine in urine was established. The limit of detection achieved 0.026 ng mL⁻¹, with a detection range from 0.023 to 375 ng mL⁻¹ in a 10 min assay, allows both visual and on-site quantitative analysis. Encouragingly, the potential interfering drugs in the sample matrix showed a negligible influence on the results, validating the superior specificity of the current immunoassay. The newly developed gold-implanted optical labels show prospects for point-of-care testing in a complex biological matrix with the desirable stability and signal amplification.