The research and development of a capacitive biosensor to detect and measure Arg Gingipain A

Date
2021-12
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and Periodontitis are non-communicable diseases with devastating consequences for the patients and people caring for the patients. It has been found that inflammation negatively influences th ese diseases. The inflammation biomarker, RgpA, has been identified a s a l ink t o s pecifically these diseases. RgpA biomarker detection can aid disease testing and treatment. There is a need for early, rapid and inexpensive detection for these disease, which is possible through detecting RgpA. RgpA should not be found in blood and thus blood would be the preferred sample for the biosensor. Biosensors have been defined from the 1900’s and are detection devices for chemical compounds or biomarkers, such as RgpA. Biosensors marry the engineering, biochemical and physiological disciplines, which explains the complexity of developing a biosensor. Capacitive detection is part of impedance measurements, which is an uncomplicated electrochemical method used in biosensor development. Complexity and costs were kept low through the label-free method of the capacitive detection. Gold interdigitated electrodes (IDEs) were bought for the sensing electrode. Some problems aroused from the bought IDEs including lift-off ears for some, a nd a ll h ad p oor reproducibility, as base measurements varied significantly. Atomicforce microscopy and light microscopy were used to characterize the electrode surface. The IDEs were cleaned using a UVO device and placed in ethanol to make the gold hydrophilic. RgpA antibodies were used as the bio-recognition element. Findings concluded that unconjugated antibodies were a necessity. Antibodies were covalently bound to the gold electrode surface using 3MPA containing thiols, which created a SAM layer. EDC and NHS was used to bind the primary amines of the antibodies to the SAM layer. Effective i mmobilization of the antibodies was a crucial element for the biosensor to work. Verification o of the immobilized layers included Ellman’s assays, Bradford assays, Nanodrop tests, fluorescent m icroscopy, LCR and EIS testing. The concentration of immobilized RgpA biomarkers were quantified by high frequency impedance measurements on a VNA. Results did not show a linear or recognisable pattern for increasing biomarker concentration, but the concept of detecting RgpA on IDEs was proven. The frequency range for the VNA was selected to be between 1MHz to 1GHz, which allowed for rapid detection. Results showed good stability over a period of time. PBS was chosen as the dielectric solution. An equivalent circuit model to represent each physical component of the interdigitated electrode, was designed to convert impedance measurements to capacitance. It is speculated that the designed equivalent circuit model is the first high frequency equivalent circuit model for IDEs, as others were not found in literature. Knowledge and techniques from engineering, biochemistry and physiology were used to develop this biosensor.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Alzheimer se siekte, Parkinson se siekte en periodontitis is nie-oordraagbare siektes met verwoestende gevolge vir die pasiënte en mense wat na die pasiënte omsien. Daar is gevind dat inflammasie h ierdie s iektes n egatief b eïnvloed. Die inflammasie bi omerker, RgpA, is geïdentifiseer a s ’ ns kakel s pesifiek aa n hi erdie si ektes. RgpA biomerkeropsporing kan siektetoetsing en behandeling help. Daar is ’n behoefte aan vroeë, vinnige en goedkoop opsporing van hierdie siektes, wat moontlik is deur die opsporing van RgpA. RgpA moet nie in bloed gevind word nie, en daarom sal bloed die voorkeurmonster wees vir die op- sporing van biosensor. Biosensors is vanaf die 1900’s gedefinieer en is opsporingstoestelle vir chemiese verbindings of biomerkers, soos RgpA. Biosensors trou ingenieurswese, biochemiese en fisiologiese dissiplines met mekaar, wat die kompleksiteit van die ontwikkeling van ’n biosensor verduidelik. Kapasitiewe opsporing is deel van impedansiemetings, wat ’n ongekompliseerde elektrochemiese metode is, wat gebruik word in die ontwikkeling van biosensors.Kompleksiteit en koste is laag gehou deur die merkerlose metode van kapasitiewe opsporing. Goue interdigiteerde elektrodes (IDE’s) is as die meetelektrode gekoop. Sommige probleme wat by die gekoopte IDE’s ontstaan het, sluit opgehefde ore in vir party, en almal het ’n swak reproduseerbaarheid gehad, aangesien basismetings aansienlik verskil het. Atoomkragmikroskopie en ligmikroskopie was gebruik om die elektrodeoppervlak te kenmerk. Die IDE’s is met ’n UVO-toestel skoongemaak en in etanol geplaas om die goud hidrofiel t e m aak. RgpA t eenliggaampies i s g ebruikas die bioherkenning element. Die bevindings het tot die gevolgtrekking gelei dat ongekonju- geerde teenliggaampies noodsaaklik is. Teenliggaampies is kovalent gebind aan die goue elektrodeoppervlak met behulp van 3MPA wat tiole bevat, wat ’n SAM laag geskep het. EDC en NHS is gebruik om die primˆere amiene van die teenliggaampies aan die SAM laag te bind. Die effektiewe i mmobilisering v an d ie t eenliggaampies w as’ n deurslagge- wende element vir die biosensor om te werk. Die verifikasie van die ge ̈ımmobiliseerde lae het ingesluit Ellman-, Bradford-, Nanodrop-, LCR-, EIS-toetse en fluoresserende mikro- skopie. Die konsentrasie van ge ̈ımmobiliseerde RgpA biomerkers is gekwantifiseer deur ho ̈efrekwensie impedansiemetings op ’n VNA. Die resultate het nie ’n lineˆere of herken- bare patroon wat die verhoging van konsentrasie van die biomerkers toon, gewys nie, maar die konsep van die opsporing van RgpA op IDE’s is wel bewys. Die frekwensieband vir die VNA is gekies vanaf 1MHz tot 1GHz, wat vinnige opsporing moontlik gemaak het. Resultate het goeie stabiliteit oor ’n tydperk gewys. PBS was gekies as die di ̈elektriese oplossing. ’n Ekwivalente stroombaanmodel, om elke fisiese komponent van die interdi- giteerde elektrode voor te stel, is ontwerp om impedansiemetings na kapasitansie om te skakel. Dit blyk dat die ontwerpte ekwivalente stroombaanmodel die eerste ho ̈efrekwensie ekwivalente stroombaanmodel vir interdigiteerde elektrodes is, aangesien ander nie in die literatuur gevind was nie. Kennis en tegnieke van ingenieurswese, biochemie en fisiologie is gebruik om hierdie biosensor te ontwerp.
Description
Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2021.
Keywords
UCTD, Inflammation -- Biosensors, Arg Gingipain A -- Detection, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Detection of pathogenic microorganisms, Capacitive Biosensor -- Research and development
Citation