Emerging design strategies for constructing multiplex lateral flow test strip sensors

Conventional lateral flow test strip (LFTS) sensors are insufficiently accurate and reliable due to their single-target detection with limited sample information in a single test. The increasing demand for the simultaneous determination of multiple analytes has recently been accelerating the rapid development of high-throughput and multiplexed LFTS sensing technologies. In this contribution, we systematically summarize the recent achievements on the design, development, and application of multiplexed LFTS sensors for improved rapid on-site diagnostics. The discussion focuses on emerging design strategies to increase multiplexing capacity for enhancing analytical efficiency and precision. As a proof-of-concept, several typical examples are presented. The advantages and disadvantages of such approaches are critically analyzed. Finally, we briefly discuss the current challenges and future perspectives. [Display omitted] •Emerging design strategies to develop multiplex lateral flow test strip sensors were systematically summarized.•The underlying principles of each design strategy were highlighted.•Several seminal examples for each strategy implemented for multiplexing were discussed.•The potential challenges and further perspectives in this field were elaborated.