Microscope‐Free Analyte Detection Based on Fiber‐Optic Gliding Motility Assays

Abstract Prolonged hospital waiting times are linked with increased patient mortality and cause additional financial burdens on institutions. Efficient point‐of‐care diagnosis would help alleviate this, but is hampered by a lack of cost‐effective devices capable of rapid, in situ, wide ranging analyte detection. Lab‐on‐fiber technology provides an answer allowing for diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring in situ with real time feedback. Here, a device is demonstrated that harnesses motor‐protein‐driven‐microtubule molecular detection assays to optical fibers. By developing a new method for microscope‐free microtubule gliding speed determination, proof of concept is demonstrated in the detection of Monomeric Streptavidin and Neutravidin, which initiate a decrease in speed in biotinylated microtubules as well as bundling in the latter case. Utilizing antibody functionalizsed microtubules label‐free and microscope‐free detection of the heart attack marker Creatine Kinase‐MB, as well secondary antibodies in n m concentration is demonstrated. This detector has the potential to be used in situ, providing rapid, low‐cost, multiplex analyte screening and detection.