Two‐Dimensional Materials For Lateral Flow Assays: A Critical Review of Functional Roles and Translational Challenges

Lateral flow assays (LFAs) are widely used for point‐of‐care diagnostics, but their detection capability remains constrained by limited molecule immobilization, weak signal output from conventional labels, and the absence of new amplification mechanisms. This review first examines the fundamental principles and current key operational modes of LFA briefly, and then systematically analyzes how two‐dimensional (2D) materials address these limitations through a function‐centric framework. Under the LFA context, we categorize 2D material contributions into several mechanistic roles: as high‐contrast signal reporters exploiting intrinsic optical properties, as signal scaffolds enabling dense biomolecule loading, as catalytic amplifiers achieving significant sensitivity enhancement, and as substrates to convert signals. Beyond existing applications, we identify the key challenges of 2D materials for LFA and underexplored opportunities, including 2D material‐functionalized fibers and membranes for structural optimization, and emerging 2D members whose unique functional properties could enable next‐generation LFA modalities. This work provides a critical synthesis of material‐biosensing integration, offering practical design rules for translating 2D‐material advantages into clinically viable LFA platforms.