Cell based applications of acoustouidic assisted interactions at surfaces

Abstract

This thesis looks at development of acoustic devices that utilise ultrasound and its interaction with particles near surfaces. The devices are aimed at application in three fields: detection, diagnosis, and eradication. To capture pathogens and cells for capture, a thin-reflector device was combined with a specific antibody coating applied to the boundary between the reflector and fluid layers. The device was optimised and found to have a strong resonance that can push even small 1 µm sized objects to the surface to be captured. A suitable substitute in the detection experiments for anthrax was chosen in Bacillus globigii (BG) spores. They were stained with a fluorescent dye and used to find the limit of detection of the device. The system was also evaluated for the capture of basophils, providing insight into the possibilities of using the same device for allergy diagnosis. The aim was to capture as many basophils as possible in the shortest amount of time, all while maintaining ease of use. For biofilm eradication, a new device was constructed that can create ultrasonic travelling waves that push a microbubble and antibiotic solution into a biofilm, which was then analysed to find what proportion of bacteria survived. A variety of important parameters were considered and tested to find the optimal strategy for improving antibiotic performance with ultrasound stimulated microbubbles.

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Identifiers

ORCID for Peter Glynne-Jones: orcid.org/0000-0001-5684-3953

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