BiosensUM 2018
Contents
BiosensUM 2018
BiosensUM is a team competing in Sensus 2018, its university is the Université de Montreal. For Sensus 2018, BiosensUM investigated the possibilities for creating a biosensor which is able to measure the concentration of Vancomycin. The full TRD can be found via this link
Method
Direct Competitive Immunoassay. Vancomycin and synthetic Vancomycin compete when binding to antibodies. If the concentration of Vancommycin is lower, more synthetic Vancomycin binds to the antibody. The synthetic Vancomycin shows fluoresence when binding to the antibody, from the strenght of the fluoresence the concentration of Vancomycin is determined.
Molecular Recognition
The vancomyocin or synthetic vancomyocin fluorophore is bound and recognized by antibodies that are linked to polystyrene beads.
Physical Transduction
The vancomyocin in the blood plasma competes with synthetic vancomyocin isothiocyanate fluorescein for a spot on the antibodies. This is done by washing both the blood plasma, the synthetic vancomyocin-FITC through the cartridge using a buffer. The measurement is then done by making the vancomyocin-FITC fluoresce using a photodiode and measuring the strength of the fluorescence using a detector.
Cartridge
The cartridge has three inlets that are meant for buffer, vancomyocin-FITC and the sample. These components are all pumped through the cartridge using a small pressure pump. These three streams of liquids first mix in a winding channel, after which they enter a slightly larger chamber where the microbeads are trapped and the measurement is performed. Lastly the stream exits the cartridge.
Reader Instrument
The LCD screen on the biosensor displays the measured concentration. The concentration is also sent to a linked mobile device, where it is displayed.
