Design and test of a graphene-based sensor towards detection of cancer biomarkers
2020 (English)Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (Two Years)), 20 credits / 30 HE credits
Student thesis
Abstract [en]
As the healthcare is benefiting from the technological advancement as a whole, the sensing technology is asector of particular interest. New development in this regard is allowing a vast array of benefits, such asself-diagnosis, point-of-care options, wearable sensors and reduction of healthcare costs due to a reductionof time needed for laboratory test and therapist supervision.A prompt diagnosis could reduce the mortality of aggressive diseases such as cancer and improve the success rate of the treatments as measures are taken nearer the onset of disease development. Many ofthe conventional tests for cancer detection are performed by expensive equipments and in specializedlaboratories, thus creating a gap between industrialized and developing countries concerning the incidenceof mortality related to the most common cancers. It is therefore important to develop the sensingtechnology in order to provide diagnostic tools that are not only highly sensitive, but also economicallyaffordable, portable and easy to be used in local clinics, thus increasing the availability and reducing thewaiting time for diagnosis.Graphene is a good candidate for further development of medical sensing technology, due to its peculiarelectronic properties, that grant it both low resistivity and high sensitivity to molecules.In this project, a graphene chip on silicon carbide (SiC) is used as a transducer for sensing biologicalmolecules known as biomarkers that can be connected to cancer presence. Coupling the graphene electricalproperties with the 3D printing technology to create a suitable microfluidic is aimed to provide a highlysensitive, robust, portable and cheap solution to mass produce sensing platform for biomarkers detection ina liquid solution. A commercial protein, the human serum albumine (HSA), is used to investigate such apossibility.Experimental results display a clear output variation due to the interaction between the used proteins and asatisfactory response time. The HSA concentration is, however, relatively high and the output response isnot as high as expected. More strategies need to be developed in order to increase the sensor's sensitivityand to test selectivity.These results, however, provide a good starting ground for future development, as the potential to savehuman lives must encourage persistence in such research.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2020. , p. 75
Keywords [en]
Biomedical engineering, biosensors, chemical sensors, cancer biomarkers, graphene, silicon carbide, microfluidic
National Category
Engineering and Technology
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-173217ISRN: LITH-IFM-A-EX—20/3913--SEOAI: oai:DiVA.org:liu-173217DiVA, id: diva2:1526827
Subject / course
Master's Programme in Biomedical Engineering
Presentation
, Linköping (English)
Supervisors
Examiners
2021-02-222021-02-092021-02-22Bibliographically approved