Date of Graduation

Summer 2024

Degree

Master of Science in Chemistry

Department

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Committee Chair

Tuhina Banerjee

Abstract

Infectious diseases have been increasing in both severity and prevalence, leading to increasing economic burdens and health concerns. Ebola hemorrhagic fever is an infectious disease that is both highly communicable and highly fatal. Current detection methods for the virus have high specificity and sensitivity but have long and/or complicated procedures that do not allow for early virus detection in highly affected areas. Compared to the lengthy procedure of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), real-time RT-PCR is more time-efficient; however, specificity and sensitivity are reduced. Since early detection of the virus is the only way to increase survival rates, sensitive detection methods that are rapid, specific, cost-effective, and user-friendly are vital for hospitals and infected areas. This research integrates the plasmonic capabilities of gold nanoparticles and the stabilizing properties of nanoceria to form plasmonic nanoceria. These nanosensors allow for rapid, sensitive, specific, and portable colorimetric detection of the Ebola virus in multiple media types by integrating enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with a lateral flow assay.

Keywords

ebola virus, ebola hemorrhagic fever, lateral flow assay, infectious disease, plasmonic nanoceria, ELISA, nanosensors

Subject Categories

Biochemistry | Chemistry | Diagnosis

Copyright

© Carissa A. Sutton

Open Access

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