Browsing by Author "Van Dyk, Carel Christiaan"

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    The development of a rapid immunosensor for the quantification of insulin
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2019-04) Van Dyk, Carel Christiaan; Fourie, P. R.; Perold, W. J.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering (CRSES)
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Diabetes is a serious, chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas fails to produce enough insulin (in type 1 diabetes), or when the body cannot use the insulin, produced by the pancreas, e ectively (in type 2 diabetes). Measuring and diagnosing type 2 diabetes is currently performed by conventional immunoassay techniques which require sophisticated equipment, are extremely time consuming and expensive. This increases the need for a rapid point-of-care device which will enable diabetic patients to monitor insulin levels on a more regular basis and help with the compliance in following strict diets and also improve overall medical healthcare. Immunosensors are compact, analytical devices that detect and measure a specific antigen (e.g. proteins) by using biological receptors, such as antibodies, and specific transducing mechanisms to generate a measurable signal. The Organic Electrochemical Transistor (OECT) has been developed as a promising alternative to conventional immunoassays. The electrochemical signal produced by OECTbased immunosensors is generated as a result of the antigen-antibody binding. OECT-based immunosensors present real-time, rapid results and exhibit high sensitivity and selectivity towards the antigen. In this project an unique inexpensive rapid OECT-based immunosensor was developed, capable of detecting and quantitatively measuring insulin. As part of the research a thorough literature review and background study was undertaken.