This collection includes most of the ASU Theses and Dissertations from 2011 to present. ASU Theses and Dissertations are available in downloadable PDF format; however, a small percentage of items are under embargo. Information about the dissertations/theses includes degree information, committee members, an abstract, supporting data or media.

In addition to the electronic theses found in the ASU Digital Repository, ASU Theses and Dissertations can be found in the ASU Library Catalog.

Dissertations and Theses granted by Arizona State University are archived and made available through a joint effort of the ASU Graduate College and the ASU Libraries. For more information or questions about this collection contact or visit the Digital Repository ETD Library Guide or contact the ASU Graduate College at gradformat@asu.edu.

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Description
Detection of molecular interactions is critical for understanding many biological processes, for detecting disease biomarkers, and for screening drug candidates. Fluorescence-based approach can be problematic, especially when applied to the detection of small molecules. Various label-free techniques, such as surface plasmon resonance technique are sensitive to mass, making it extremely

Detection of molecular interactions is critical for understanding many biological processes, for detecting disease biomarkers, and for screening drug candidates. Fluorescence-based approach can be problematic, especially when applied to the detection of small molecules. Various label-free techniques, such as surface plasmon resonance technique are sensitive to mass, making it extremely challenging to detect small molecules. In this thesis, novel detection methods for molecular interactions are described.

First, a simple detection paradigm based on reflectance interferometry is developed. This method is simple, low cost and can be easily applied for protein array detection.

Second, a label-free charge sensitive optical detection (CSOD) technique is developed for detecting of both large and small molecules. The technique is based on that most molecules relevant to biomedical research and applications are charged or partially charged. An optical fiber is dipped into the well of a microplate. It detects the surface charge of the fiber, which does not decrease with the size (mass) of the molecule, making it particularly attractive for studying small molecules.

Third, a method for mechanically amplification detection of molecular interactions (MADMI) is developed. It provides quantitative analysis of small molecules interaction with membrane proteins in intact cells. The interactions are monitored by detecting a mechanical deformation in the membrane induced by the molecular interactions. With this novel method small molecules and membrane proteins interaction in the intact cells can be detected. This new paradigm provides mechanical amplification of small interaction signals, allowing us to measure the binding kinetics of both large and small molecules with membrane proteins, and to analyze heterogeneous nature of the binding kinetics between different cells, and different regions of a single cell.

Last, by tracking the cell membrane edge deformation, binding caused downstream event – granule secretory has been measured. This method focuses on the plasma membrane change when granules fuse with the cell. The fusion of granules increases the plasma membrane area and thus the cell edge expands. The expansion is localized at the vesicle release location. Granule size was calculated based on measured edge expansion. The membrane deformation due to the granule release is real-time monitored by this method.
ContributorsGuan, Yan (Author) / Tao, Nongjian (Thesis advisor) / LaBaer, Joshua (Committee member) / Goryll, Michael (Committee member) / Wang, Shaopeng (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2015
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Description
Proteins play a central role to human body and biological activities. As powerful tools for protein detections, many surface plasmon resonance based techniques have been developed to enhance the sensitivity. However, sensitivity is not the only final goal. As a biosensor, four things really matter: sensitivity, specificity, resolution (temporal/spatial) and

Proteins play a central role to human body and biological activities. As powerful tools for protein detections, many surface plasmon resonance based techniques have been developed to enhance the sensitivity. However, sensitivity is not the only final goal. As a biosensor, four things really matter: sensitivity, specificity, resolution (temporal/spatial) and throughput.

This dissertation presents several works on developing novel plasmonic based techniques for protein detections on the last two aspects to extend the application field. A fast electrochemically controlled plasmonic detection technique is first developed with the capability of monitoring electrochemical signal with nanosecond response time. The study reveals that the conformational gating of electron transfer in a redox protein (cytochrome c) takes place over a broad range of time scales (sub-µs to ms). The second platform integrates ultra-low volume piezoelectric liquid dispensing and plasmonic imaging detection to monitor different protein binding processes simultaneously with low sample cost. Experiment demonstrates the system can observe binding kinetics in 10×10 microarray of 6 nL droplet, with variations of kinetic rate constants among spots less than ±5%. A focused plasmonic imaging system with bi-cell algorithm is also proposed for spatial resolution enhancement. The two operation modes, scanning mode and focus mode, can be applied for different purposes. Measurement of bacterial aggregation demonstrates the higher spatial resolution. Detections of polystyrene beads binding and 50 nm gold nanoparticles oscillation show a high signal to noise ratio of the system.

The real properties of protein rely on its dynamic personalities. The above works shed light upon fast and high throughput detection of protein kinetics, and enable more applications for plasmonic imaging techniques. It is anticipated that such methods will help to invoke a new surge to unveil the mysteries of biological activities and chemical process.
ContributorsWang, Yan (Author) / Tao, Nongjian (Thesis advisor) / Chae, Junseok (Committee member) / Goryll, Michael (Committee member) / Wang, Shaopeng (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2018
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Description
Mechanical properties of cells are important in maintaining physiological functions of biological systems. Quantitative measurement and analysis of mechanical properties can help understand cellular mechanics and its functional relevance and discover physical biomarkers for diseases monitoring and therapeutics.

This dissertation presents a work to develop optical methods for studying cell mechanics

Mechanical properties of cells are important in maintaining physiological functions of biological systems. Quantitative measurement and analysis of mechanical properties can help understand cellular mechanics and its functional relevance and discover physical biomarkers for diseases monitoring and therapeutics.

This dissertation presents a work to develop optical methods for studying cell mechanics which encompasses four applications. Surface plasmon resonance microscopy based optical method has been applied to image intracellular motions and cell mechanical motion. This label-free technique enables ultrafast imaging with extremely high sensitivity in detecting cell deformation. The technique was first applied to study intracellular transportation. Organelle transportation process and displacement steps of motor protein can be tracked using this method. The second application is to study heterogeneous subcellular membrane displacement induced by membrane potential (de)polarization. The application can map the amplitude and direction of cell deformation. The electromechanical coupling of mammalian cells was also observed. The third application is for imaging electrical activity in single cells with sub-millisecond resolution. This technique can fast record actions potentials and also resolve the fast initiation and propagation of electromechanical signals within single neurons. Bright-field optical imaging approach has been applied to the mechanical wave visualization that associated with action potential in the fourth application. Neuron-to-neuron viability of membrane displacement was revealed and heterogeneous subcellular response was observed.

All these works shed light on the possibility of using optical approaches to study millisecond-scale and sub-nanometer-scale mechanical motions. These studies revealed ultrafast and ultra-small mechanical motions at the cellular level, including motor protein-driven motions and electromechanical coupled motions. The observations will help understand cell mechanics and its biological functions. These optical approaches will also become powerful tools for elucidating the interplay between biological and physical functions.
ContributorsYang, Yunze (Author) / Tao, Nongjian (Thesis advisor) / Wang, Shaopeng (Committee member) / Goryll, Michael (Committee member) / Si, Jennie (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2016
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Description
The development of biosensing platforms not only has an immediate lifesaving effect but also has a significant socio-economic impact. In this dissertation, three very important biomarkers with immense importance were chosen for further investigation, reducing the technological gap and improving their sensing platform.Firstly, gold nanoparticles (AuNP) aggregation and sedimentation-based assays

The development of biosensing platforms not only has an immediate lifesaving effect but also has a significant socio-economic impact. In this dissertation, three very important biomarkers with immense importance were chosen for further investigation, reducing the technological gap and improving their sensing platform.Firstly, gold nanoparticles (AuNP) aggregation and sedimentation-based assays were developed for the sensitive, specific, and rapid detection of Ebola virus secreted glycoprotein (sGP)and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV2) receptor-binding domain (RBD) antigens. An extensive study was done to develop a complete assay workflow from critical nanobody generation to optimization of AuNP size for rapid detection. A rapid portable electronic reader costing (<$5, <100 cm3), and digital data output was developed. Together with the developed workflow, this portable electronic reader showed a high sensitivity (limit of detection of ~10 pg/mL, or 0.13 pM for sGP and ~40 pg/mL, or ~1.3 pM for RBD in diluted human serum), a high specificity, a large dynamic range (~7 logs), and accelerated readout within minutes. Secondly, A general framework was established for small molecule detection using plasmonic metal nanoparticles through wide-ranging investigation and optimization of assay parameters with demonstrated detection of Cannabidiol (CBD). An unfiltered assay suitable for personalized dosage monitoring was developed and demonstrated. A portable electronic reader demonstrated optoelectronic detection of CBD with a limit of detection (LOD) of <100 pM in urine and saliva, a large dynamic range (5 logs), and a high specificity that differentiates closely related Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Finally, with careful biomolecular design and expansion of the portable reader to a dual-wavelength detector the classification of antibodies based on their affinity to SARS-COV2 RBD and their ability to neutralize the RBD from binding to the human Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) was demonstrated with the capability to detect antibody concentration as low as 1 pM and observed neutralization starting as low as 10 pM with different viral load and variant. This portable, low-cost, and versatile readout system holds great promise for rapid, digital, and portable data collection in the field of biosensing.
ContributorsIkbal, Md Ashif (Author) / Wang, Chao (Thesis advisor) / Goryll, Michael (Committee member) / Zhao, Yuji (Committee member) / Wang, Shaopeng (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2022