A paper-based point-of-care device for the detection of cysteine using gold nanoparticles from whole blood

We present a colorimetric probe based on polyvinylpyrrolidone-capped gold nanoparticles (PVP-AuNPs) that is sensitive and selective for cysteine (Cys). A microfluidic paper-based analytical device (μ-PAD) with embedded dried PVP-AuNPs at the polyethersulfone (PES) paper surface is used for Cys detection. When thiol molecules attach to PVP-AuNPs in the presence of Cys, they clump together, and this causes the solution's color to shift from red to blue within 5 minutes. The device is capable of detecting Cys levels between 1.0 μM and 50.0 μM with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.2 μM under optimized conditions. The stability of the μ-PAD was tested for 100 days, demonstrating re-dispersibility to detect Cys levels in blood. Dried PVP-AuNP-μPADs were integrated with blood plasma separation modules for point-of-care (POC) Cys detection. Consequently, the device shows potential as a self-sustaining, quantification platform with a recovery percentage ranging from 98.44 to 111.9 in clinical samples.