Development of Highly Sensitive Bulk Acoustic Wave Device Biosensor Arrays for Screening and Early Detection of Prostate Cancer

摘要

In this research, I present several novel contributions to the field of microelectronic acoustic biosensors that approach the goal of developing a cost-effective, highly sensitive and highly selective sensor array for the detection of early cancer proliferation. First I report on the development of a novel solidly mounted shear-mode resonator employing piezoelectric ZnO as an appropriate base device for liquid-phase sensing applications. Second I report on the development of a novel and appropriate chemical surface preparation protocol for the covalent immobilization of monoclonal IgG antibodies to the surface of this device, thereby functionalizing it as a biosensor. Proof of functionality is demonstrated employing these sensors for the detection of various known cancer biomarkers in complex media as well as progress towards developing a packaged disposable sensor array system is also reported.