Using photonic crystal biosensors for pharmaceutical screening

George, Sherine

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/14723 Copy

Description

Title

Using photonic crystal biosensors for pharmaceutical screening

Author(s)

George, Sherine

Issue Date

2010-01-06T16:41:56Z

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Cunningham, Brian T.

Doctoral Committee Chair(s)

Cunningham, Brian T.

Department of Study

Bioengineering

Discipline

Bioengineering

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

M.S.

Degree Level

Thesis

Keyword(s)

• Label-free
• Biosensor

Abstract

The application of photonic crystal surfaces for label-free bioimaging and sensing is presented. A label-free biosensor assay is used to monitor the density of cell attachment to the sensor surface, and to quantify changes in attached cell density induced by the introduction of plant extracts. This image-based biosensor detection approach can effectively identify plant extracts with cytotoxic effects on cancer cells using only 500 cells per test. A library of sixty-one plant extract from Bangladesh is studied. We have also demonstrated that cell death in extracttreated cells occurs via apoptosis. Next, we take a closer look at the cytotoxicity of extracts from a single genus – the Amoora genus, on a panel of five different cancer cell lines. The effect of the extraction method used in preparing the extract sample on cell cytotoxicity is explored. An ongoing project involving the screening of plant protein samples from Pakistan is then presented. In further work, the description of the photonic crystal biosensor used for a protein macromolecule binding assay is presented. A high-throughput screen aimed at identifying small molecule disrupters of protein-DNA binding is designed and executed. Both the cell-based assay and the protein-DNA based assay described here find important applications in the modern drug discovery process.

Graduation Semester

2009-12

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/14723

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2009 Sherine George

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