Graduate Seminar Series: Molecular Stream – Jurgen Frasheri

Graduate Seminar Series: Molecular Stream
Graduate Seminar Series for the Institute of Biomedical Engineering (BME). This day is for molecular stream presenters.
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Presentation Title: Development a Limulus Amoebocyte Lysate Assay for Bacterial Endotoxin Testing on a Digital Microfluidic Platform
Abstract:
Bacterial endotoxin is a pyrogenic substance that can trigger a severe immune response, resulting in death. The Limulus amoebocyte lysate (LAL) assay, derived from the blood of horseshoe crabs, is the globally approved gold standard method for detecting endotoxin. The pharmaceutical and biomedical industries conduct regular endotoxin checks, and the increased demand for LAL has led to a significant decline in horseshoe crab populations worldwide. In light of this, we propose a digital microfluidics (DMF) method that minimizes reagent consumption to address this issue. Our approach uses less than 1 μL of LAL reagent per test, representing a 100x to 1000x reduction in volume compared to traditional methods.
To detect bacterial endotoxin, I am introducing an image-based and capacitance-based method that can reduce the total assay time. However, to make these assays practical and minimize the risk of contamination, I plan to develop an enclosure that integrates seamlessly with the endotoxin assay workflow. My goal is to provide optimal incubation conditions and mitigate potential sources of contamination, making the assay workflow easy to use.
Supervisor Name: Aaron Wheeler
Year of Study: 2
Program of Study: MASc
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89610372821?pwd=azd4SCtYVWtreVovaGNPV1c2NGY2Zz09
Meeting ID: 896 1037 2821
Password: 483329
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