Polymerization-based Amplification for Improved Biodetection of Disease Biomarkers

     As the multiplicity of molecular pathways causing disease are continually elucidated, it is becoming increasingly necessary in medical diagnostics to assess multiple biomarkers simultaneously to best diagnose and treat a patient. Polymerization-based signal amplification of biodetection is well suited to this challenge, as the method has been demonstrated to yield extremely high sensitivity, and can be used in an array format, allowing for parallel detection of multiple biomarkers. In this method, a biorecognition event on the surface of a test device is transduced into growth of a polymer film, which may be readily detected by eye. My project focuses on overcoming various challenges of polymerization-based amplification that will make the method more amenable to a clinical setting, such as reducing oxygen inhibition, adapting the assay to membrane surfaces that are more suitable for antibody arrays, incorporating fluorescence into the films allowing for detection by inexpensive low power scanners, and better understanding the kinetics of the surface polymerization reaction.