Date of Completion

Spring 5-1-2024

Thesis Advisor(s)

Nicholas Leadbeater, James Rusling

Honors Major

Chemistry

Disciplines

Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment | Diagnosis | Inorganic Chemistry

Abstract

This thesis outlines the research conducted over the past two years on the production and application of microfluidic devices (MFDs) in electrochemiluminescent-based bioanalytical assays. The work is categorized into two main projects: designing and manufacturing MFDs and developing electrochemiluminescent (ECL) assays for detecting Alzheimer's disease (AD) associated microRNAs (miRNAs) using CRISPR technology. The process of learning to design MFDs involved acquiring proficiency in computer-aided design (CAD) software, stereolithography (SLA) 3D printing, and iterative design techniques. The development of the ECL-based assay for AD miRNA was a multidisciplinary endeavor, combining elements of inorganic and biological chemistry. Although the research on the development of this assay is still ongoing, this thesis documents the construction, functionalization, and testing processes in detail. It explores the effectiveness of the assay and discusses the optimizations and modifications implemented based on the data collected during testing.

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