Title Information
Title
Development of a Liquid Crystal Biosensor for the Detection of Endotoxin
Name: Personal
Name Part
McCamley, Maureen K.
Role
Role Term: Text
creator
Origin Information
Copyright Date (keyDate="yes", encoding="w3cdtf")
2009
Physical Description
Extent
xv, 120 p.
digitalOrigin
born digital
Note
Thesis (Ph.D.) -- Brown University (2009)
Name: Personal
Name Part
Crawford, Gregory
Role
Role Term: Text
director
Name: Personal
Name Part
Artenstein, Andrew
Role
Role Term: Text
director
Name: Personal
Name Part
Artenstein, Andrew
Role
Role Term: Text
reader
Name: Personal
Name Part
Tripathi, Anubhav
Role
Role Term: Text
reader
Name: Personal
Name Part
Opal, Steven
Role
Role Term: Text
reader
Name: Personal
Name Part
Zumer, Slobodan
Role
Role Term: Text
reader
Name: Corporate
Name Part
Brown University. Biomedical Engineering
Role
Role Term: Text
sponsor
Genre (aat)
theses
Abstract
This dissertation describes translational research conducted to develop a rapid diagnostic for the detection of endotoxin using liquid crystal sensor technology. Due to the elastic nature of bulk nematic liquid crystal, small changes in surface anchoring at the interface between the liquid crystal sensor and the targeted biomolecule (endotoxin) are amplified, allowing optical detection through polarizing microscopy. Theoretical simulations (a phenomenological Landau-de Gennes model) were applied to understand and predict the behavior of the confined nematic. Simulated optical micrographs were compared with experiments to understand the nematic profiles and to control and optimize the sensor in a specific regime. Distinct optical patterns were detected when the sensor was exposed to air and to water. A structural transition in the nematic structure was observed, driven by changes in the anchoring strength at the open surface of the sensor. This change was leveraged and used to detect the presence of both a model surfactant and the targeted biomolecule at the open surface. The response of the sensor can be controlled by changing certain experimental parameters, such as the depth, aspect ratio, anchoring strength and nematic material. Isolated lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was detected in concentrations varying from 1 mg/mL to 10 ug/mL, giving a very strong and quantifiable response of the sensor.
Subject (FAST) (authorityURI="http://id.worldcat.org/fast", valueURI="http://id.worldcat.org/fast/999541")
Topic
Liquid crystals
Subject (FAST) (authorityURI="http://id.worldcat.org/fast", valueURI="http://id.worldcat.org/fast/909841")
Topic
Endotoxins
Subject (FAST) (authorityURI="http://id.worldcat.org/fast", valueURI="http://id.worldcat.org/fast/832568")
Topic
Biomedical engineering
Record Information
Record Content Source (marcorg)
RPB
Record Creation Date (encoding="iso8601")
20091218
Language
Language Term: Code (ISO639-2B)
eng
Language Term: Text
English
Identifier: DOI
10.7301/Z0FQ9TVW
Access Condition: rights statement (href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/")
In Copyright
Access Condition: restriction on access
Collection is open for research.
Type of Resource (primo)
dissertations