Abstract:

Lab-on-a-chip biosensors have grown into a popular solution for the detection of pathogenic agents. The applications of these sensors range from the detection of food borne pathogens, to the detection of biological warfare agents. The device used in this thesis has been used for the measurement of changes in the volume of astrocytes and human embryonic kidney cells by the insulating characteristic of a cell wall. By preparing the surface of a glass cover slide with antibodies the sensor can be used to detect volume changes resulting from attached bacteria in solution. This detection by changes in impedance offer advantages over other methods of detection by requiring only the antibodies attached to the attachment surface, as well as a simple 4 electrode sensor region. The ability of the sensor to detect specific analytes as well as the ability to differentiate between quantities of analyte are also demonstrated in this study.