AbstractsBiology & Animal Science

This thesis serves to introduce a new point-of-care testing device capable of providing spectrometric data for solid and liquid phase samples. A custom cradle was developed to maintain optical alignment allowing for the diffraction, and therefore spectrometric analysis, of light transmitted either directly through a sample or via an intermediary optical biosensor. Demonstration of the instrument is provided with both an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and a photonic-crystal (PC)-based investigation of biomolecular adsorption. ELISA analysis is completed on both human interleukin-6, an important diagnostic cancer biomarker, and Ara h 1, one of the principle peanut proteins responsible for allergic reactions. PC-based sensing was completed with a Protein A-immunoglobulin G interaction with a .009 nm accuracy. All of these demonstrations were completed at physiologically-relevant concentrations, and as such, serve as proof-of-concept for two separate modalities of a smartphone-based spectrometric optical biosensor. In the future, such a sensor has the potential to provide a low-cost, point-of-care diagnostic device that is inherently robust, user-friendly, cloud-connected, and suited for use in remote sensing applications.