Date of Award

Summer 8-2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Chemistry & Biochemistry

Program/Concentration

Chemistry

Committee Director

James Lee

Committee Director

Gymama Slaughter

Committee Member

Stephen Beebe

Committee Member

David Courson

Committee Member

Jingdong Mao

Abstract

This dissertation investigates the development and application of advanced biosensing technologies to enhance early disease detection, neurological diagnostics, and bioactive compound evaluation. The research spans four key areas. First, it introduces tapered optical fiber (TOF)-based plasmonic biosensors for the non-invasive detection of prostate cancer, demonstrating high sensitivity and specificity compared to conventional diagnostic methods.

Second, it explores the use of fluorescent biosensors to test the Transmembrane Electrostatically Localized Proton (TELP) theory, shedding light on the role of localized protons in neuronal signaling and energy transfer. Third, the work presents a high-throughput, microplate-based biosensing platform for analyzing mitochondrial function under nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEFs), offering a label-free and cost-effective tool with implications for neurodegenerative disease research.

Finally, the anticancer potential of Spirulina-derived peptides is assessed; although initial findings indicate cytotoxic effects on cancer cells, the data do not yet provide strong evidence of selective targeting when compared to non-cancerous cells, highlighting the need for further investigation.

Rights

In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

DOI

10.25777/2evk-0e39

ISBN

9798293843558

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