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Specific phage based bacteria detection using microcantilever sensors
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- Author / Creator
- Glass, Nicholas
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Resonant microcantilevers are promising transducers for bacteria detection because of their
high sensitivities. Surface stress and mass from adsorbates affect the resonant frequency.
We developed a novel method for decoupling the frequency contributions of a change in
mass and surface stress on a cantilever sensor validated in theoretical, finite element and
experimental framework.
Bacteria capture was achieved by several different chemical immobilization of T4
phages. The most successful bacteria capturing surface produced bacterial densities of
about 11 bacteria/100^m2. The developed theory is then applied to determine captured
bacterial mass on the cantilevers. This provides an estimate of the bacteria mass on
the cantilever. Two different functionalizations resulted in predicted bacterial densities
of 5 bacteria/100^m2 and 3 bacteria/100^m2. Poor densities relative to surface capture
experiments is caused by the boundary effects of the cantilever in solution. -
- Subjects / Keywords
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- Graduation date
- Fall 2009
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- Type of Item
- Thesis
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- Degree
- Master of Science
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- License
- This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.