Award details

Optical biosensors in human and animal health

Reference	BB/C003683/1
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Peter Eckersall
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Professor Jonathan Cooper, Professor Duncan Graham, Professor Naveed Sattar
Institution	University of Glasgow
Department	Veterinary Clinical Studies
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	353,648
Status	Completed
Type	Research Grant
Start date	01/01/2005
End date	31/12/2007
Duration	36 months

Abstract

The objective of the project is to produce a generic immunoassay point-of-care assay optical system based either upon surface enhanced (resonance) Raman scattering or fluorescence, that can be adapted to measure acute phase proteins (APP) in human or bovine serum. These proteins are now known to be important markers for inflammation and cardiovascular disease in man and for infection in relation to animal health and welfare. The programme will thus have three-linked sections with the aims of: (i) the production and validation of antiserum to APP; (ii) the development of an optical Lab-on-a-Chip biosensing format based on antibody antigen interactions using the antibody for the APP and (iii) the validation of biosensors, in laboratory and in field conditions. (i) The Production of Antiserum to APP: The essential reagents required for the development of the device are purified APPs and the specific antibodies. The principal APPs in cattle (haptoglobin and serum amyloid A) will be purified by Professor Eckersall from acute phase serum and antibodies produced and validated prior to incorporation into the biosensor. In a parallel and complementary study, assays for human CRP (which are currently measured in our laboratory at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary using a sensitive double antibody sandwich ELISA with rabbit antihuman CRP and peroxidase conjugated rabbit anti-human CRP) will also be developed by Dr Sattar. These existing reagents will be modified for use in this proposal, while purified hCRP is also available commercially. (ii) Development of Optical Biosensors: We will create a disposable microsystems device, microfabricated using both hard and soft-lithography. The initial objective is to develop a benchtop machine that shows the clear potential to be further developed as a handheld device (perhaps as part of a programme of commercialisation). It is expected that fluids will be driven from reservoirs using pressure driven flow, and that the sample, to be analysed will be added to an appropriate handling port. It is a longer term speculative aim to also try and iteratively optimise flow conditions such that it will, in future, prove possible to drive the sample through the device using electro-osmotic flow. A systematic approach on how to overcome the high conductivity of whole blood will be considered as part of our investigations. Commercially available SERRS and fluorescence spectrometers will be used for the detection of labelled APPs with two possible routes used for the implementation of the assays. The measurements will either be performed on silica (fluorescence) or silver coated (SERRS) beads. In all cases, ligand measurements of two or more analytes will enable us to determine the amount of antibody on the bead, as well as the amount of bound antigen (as a competitive pseudo-homogeneous immunoassay). Whether possible we will use the fluorescence or SERRS signals generated from a common chrompohore label, enabling a direct comparison of relative signal strengths.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Engineering & Biological Systems (EBS)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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