Transport–Reaction–Signal Coupling in Lateral Flow Assays for Next‐Generation Point‐of‐Care Diagnostics

This project shows how to design and analyze the transport‑reaction‑signal coupling in lateral flow assays (LFAs) used for point‑of‑care diagnostics. It brings together chemical reaction engineering and transport phenomena to create a framework that looks at how mass transfer in porous materials, surface reaction rates, and signal generation affect assay sensitivity and dynamic range. Students learn to model fluid flow in paper‑based microfluidic channels with Darcy’s law and the Lucas‑Washburn equation. These flow models are combined with convection‑diffusion‑reaction equations that describe how analytes bind to antibodies. The project also explains how to simulate the spatial and temporal distribution of target biomarkers on the nitrocellulose membrane. It addresses common problems such

as the hook effect and mass‑transfer limitations. In addition, the framework helps design flow‑control features—like changes in channel geometry or wax‑printed barriers—to set the right residence time and improve capture efficiency. By linking transport phenomena with surface reaction kinetics, this resource lets undergraduate chemical‑engineering students build quantitative, simulation‑based models of diagnostic devices, connecting basic transport theory to real biomedical applications.

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