Towards a carbon nanotube antibody sensor

Author(s)
Bojö, Peter
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Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Biological Engineering.
Advisor
Michael Strano.
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Abstract
This work investigated single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT)/polymer-protein A complexes for optically reporting antibody concentration via a change in near infrared fluorescent emission after antibody binding. SWNT have potential as biosensors because of extraordinary sensitivity, lack of photobleaching, and optical activity in a near-infrared window. A SWNT sensor could provide label-free measurements of antibody concentration in a continuous fashion, which may aid selection of production strains. Protein A itself, dextran, poly vinyl alcohol, DNA sequences, and chitosan were used as polymers for wrapping SWNT. Nonspecific binding to solution-phase constructs was found to be a major problem with these approaches. Chitosan hydrogels encapsulating SWNT also show nonspecific responses.
Description
Thesis (M. Eng.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Biological Engineering, February 2012.
 
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
 
Includes bibliographical references (p. 46-51).
 
Date issued
2012
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/71463
Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Biological Engineering
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Keywords
Biological Engineering.
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