An Investigation into the Causes of Insulin Aggregation

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Description
Insulin is an essential peptide hormone that aides in the metabolism of glucose by allowing the cells to uptake glucose. Exogenous insulin is often prescribed to patients in order to help manage their diabetes. Recent research has indicated that prescription

Insulin is an essential peptide hormone that aides in the metabolism of glucose by allowing the cells to uptake glucose. Exogenous insulin is often prescribed to patients in order to help manage their diabetes. Recent research has indicated that prescription insulin is not at the labeled concentration when the prescription is filled by the patient. This decrease in concentration from when the insulin is manufactured to when it reaches the pharmacy is likely due to the insulin denaturing and aggregating. Dynamic light scattering is a useful and accurate method to determine the hydrodynamic radius of a solute and can be used to measure the hydrodynamic radius of insulin which will thus determine the aggregation of the sample since the more aggregated it is, the larger the hydrodynamic radius will be. By testing the effect of pH, concentration, temperature, and time on insulin samples, the optimal storage conditions can be determined in order to ensure researchers and patients are not using aggregated insulin. No conclusive relationship was found between any variable and sample diameter, but several trends were identified. Temperature, pH, and time in solution are all factors that could impact the aggregation, and therefore activity, of insulin. However, concentration did not show any trend regarding aggregation. Determining the relationships between these variables could allow for the identification of ideal storage conditions for researchers. Additionally, it can be used to identify shortcomings in the insulin supply chain.
Date Created
2018-05
Agent

Utilization of Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy for the Detection of QSOX1 and CEA

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Description
Improved pancreatic cancer diagnostic technology has the potential to improve patient prognosis by increasing cancer screening rates and encouraging early detection of the cancer. To increase the sensitivity and specificity while decreasing the cost and time investment, the emerging detection

Improved pancreatic cancer diagnostic technology has the potential to improve patient prognosis by increasing cancer screening rates and encouraging early detection of the cancer. To increase the sensitivity and specificity while decreasing the cost and time investment, the emerging detection method of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was tested to detect two pancreatic cancer specific biomarkers. The antibodies of carcinoembryonic antigen and quiescin sulfhydryl oxidase 1 were immobilized individually to gold disk electrodes and tested for binding to their respective antigens. An AC signal of varying potential and a wide frequency sweep was applied to the electrode system and the resulting imaginary impedance values were analyzed. Based off of the highest slope and R-squared values of the collected impedance values, the optimal binding frequencies of QSOX1 and CEA with their antibodies was determined to be 97.66 Hz and 17.44 Hz, respectively. EIS was also used to test for potential multimarker detection by coimmobilizing anti-CEA and anti-QSOX1 to the surface of gold disk electrodes. Each system's impedance response was correlated to the physiological concentration range of CEA and QSOX1 individually. The resulting impedance and concentration calibration curves had R-squared values of 0.78 and 0.79 for the calculated QSOX1 and CEA, respectively. Both markers showed similar trends between the calculated and actual calibration curves for each marker. The imaginary impedance output lacks two independent peaks for the distinct optimal binding frequencies of both biomarkers after signal subtraction and show a large shift in optimal frequencies. From analyzing the co-immobilization data for the calculated and experimentally determined calibration curves of CEA and QSOX1, both curves had different correlation values between imaginary impedance values and concentration. Add and subtracting the experimental and calculated co-immobilization, QSOX1, and CEA signals suggest an oversaturation of QSOX1 used during the experiments.
Date Created
2017-05
Agent

Proof of Concept of Pseudo-Continuous Monitoring of L-Lactate Levels Using Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy

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Description
As of today, there does not exist a cheap diagnostic for lactate for use in trauma centers. $671 billion are spent on trauma accidents and emergency rooms, with money focused on treatments such as YSI and ELISA, costing $1500 and

As of today, there does not exist a cheap diagnostic for lactate for use in trauma centers. $671 billion are spent on trauma accidents and emergency rooms, with money focused on treatments such as YSI and ELISA, costing $1500 and $200, respectively. Gold disk electrodes were used to immobilize lactate dehydrogenase and glucose oxidase, with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) used as the method for detection. Two lactate experimental runs were completed with data detailing a linear model and positive correlation for imaginary impedance and concentration, and one glucose experimental run was completed proving that a continuous system can be completed accounting for reaction and consumption using EIS, a process previously not done before.
Date Created
2017-05
Agent