Using photonic crystal biosensors for pharmaceutical screening

The application of photonic crystal surfaces for label-free bioimaging and sensing is presented. A label-free biosensor assay is used to monitor the density of cell attachment to the sensor surface, and to quantify changes in attached cell density induced by the introduction of plant extracts. This image-based biosensor detection approach can effectively identify plant extracts with cytotoxic effects on cancer cells using only 500 cells per test. A library of sixty-one plant extract from Bangladesh is studied. We have also demonstrated that cell death in extracttreated cells occurs via apoptosis. Next, we take a closer look at the cytotoxicity of extracts from a single genus – the Amoora genus, on a panel of five different cancer cell lines. The effect of the extraction method used in preparing the extract sample on cell cytotoxicity is explored. An ongoing project involving the screening of plant protein samples from Pakistan is then presented. In further work, the description of the photonic crystal biosensor used for a protein macromolecule binding assay is presented. A high-throughput screen aimed at identifying small molecule disrupters of protein-DNA binding is designed and executed. Both the cell-based assay and the protein-DNA based assay described here find important applications in the modern drug discovery process.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Bioengineering

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2010

Author dc:creator

• George, Sherine

Contributors dc:contributor

• Cunningham, Brian T.

• Label-free
• Biosensor

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2009 Sherine George

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/14723

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/14723