Next Generation Non-Invasive Biomarker Testing in Saliva: The Organic Electrolyte Gated Field Effect Transistor Aptasensor System

Abstract

Diagnostic biomolecule quantification in healthcare relies on effective but centralized laboratory testing procedures. However, as the need for testing rapidly grows, the current process is struggling to meet the demand. Rapid point-of-contact analysis devices are not capable of non-invasive quantification of small, dilute molecules such as steroid hormones in saliva. Current literature bioquantification devices suffer from drawbacks such as short shelf life, high intra-device variability, sample matrix effects, material incompatibilities, high-cost fabrication and data collection that rely on laboratory conditions and processes. This body of work took our organic electrolyte gated field effect transistor (OEGFET), a novel biosensor architecture, and developed it into a feasible platform for real-world biomolecule quantification applications.1-iv | P a g e For all of the papers presented in this work I was listed as the primary author as I contributed to study conception and design, device fabrication, device testing, analysis and interpretation of results, and manuscript draft preparation. My supervisor Prof. R. Prakash contributed to study conception and design, result interpretation, and manuscript preparation for all papers.Additional Contributions: J1. Dr. S. Bebe fabricated the top gate surfaces and helped with editing the manuscript draft. J2. Dr. R. Amache developed the bio-gel fabrication process, fabricated the bio-gel EDLC capacitors and helped with manuscript editing. Dr. S. Bebe also helped with manuscript preparation and fabricated the device top gates. J3. I also redesigned the OEGFET devices into a flexible format including establishing an APTES immobilization process that would be suitable for Kapton and safe to perform in our cleanroom. J4. I also optimized the new models and designed their parameter extraction processes. J5. I also redesigned the APTES process to prevent delamination. Prof. R. Prakash also acquired ethics board approval for the collection and testing of human saliva. J6. B. Gamero and I decided on the current shunt method of data collection for the OEGFET, and I wrote the software for the OEGFET data collection with the board. B. Gamero designed the footprint, EIS collection method, and external circuitry of the printed circuit board. J7. We used the same board developed by B. Gamero from J6. J8. We used the same board developed by B. Gamero from J6. J9. I designed the PVA-Carrageenan cross linking on surface process based on the bulk crosslinking work of Dr. R. Amache, transistor device testing, analysis and interpretation of results, and manuscript draft preparation. X. Song performed capacitor fabrication, capacitor data collection and analysis, and contributed to manuscript preparation. J10. Dr. E. McConnell and Prof. M. DeRosa of the Ladder group at Carleton designed and produced the αSyn aptamer and contributed to manuscript preparation. D. Chan and Prof. M. Holahan performed the fluorescence quantification and contributed to manuscript preparation. Additional contributio...