eprintid: 1546573 rev_number: 40 eprint_status: archive userid: 608 dir: disk0/01/54/65/73 datestamp: 2017-06-08 08:11:26 lastmod: 2020-05-01 09:45:12 status_changed: 2017-06-08 08:11:26 type: thesis metadata_visibility: show creators_name: Turbé, Valérian title: Towards a smartphone-connected point-of-care test for HIV ispublished: unpub divisions: UCL divisions: A01 divisions: B04 divisions: C06 divisions: F64 keywords: HIV, Point-of-care, Smartphone, Biosensor abstract: The devastation caused by HIV is driving the development of new point-of-care diagnostics. The work presented in this thesis aims to help develop a new generation of smartphone- connected HIV tests designed to address the very high levels of undiagnosed HIV-infected individuals, by widening access to HIV testing to doctors surgeries, pharmacies and developing countries. The biosensor is based on mass manufacturable surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices, and uses piezoelectricity to transduce the binding of biomarkers on the surface of the device into a measurable electric signal, making the test low cost, easy to use and reliable. In addition, the SAW biosensor presented here has the ability to wirelessly and securely transmit results to healthcare providers to potentially offer follow-up appointments at local clinics, or virtually. This thesis begins with the theory behind SAW biosensors. A more focussed characterisation of the specific device developed is then presented, followed by the details of the work done to optimise the biosensor in order to make it a good candidate for a point-of-care test for HIV. Key results include the proof of concept detection of different biomarkers of HIV infection, as well as a demonstration of the ability of the SAW biosensor to deliver a fast response. Different pilot studies are then presented, demonstrating the performance of the device as a diagnostic test, highlighting 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity. These were conducted with more than 30 confirmed HIV positive patient samples and more than 100 healthy volunteers. The following chapter then examines the fundamental mechanisms underpinning the SAW biosensor output and an empirical method to ultimately design more sensitive devices in future antigen detection. This thesis concludes with a summary of the main results and future work, including the potential for larger clinical studies, and field trials in developing countries. date: 2017-04-28 date_type: published oa_status: green full_text_type: other thesis_class: doctoral_open language: eng thesis_view: UCL_Thesis primo: open primo_central: open_green verified: verified_manual elements_id: 1281471 lyricists_name: Turbe, Valerian lyricists_id: VTURB82 actors_name: Turbe, Valerian actors_id: VTURB82 actors_role: owner full_text_status: public pagerange: 1-277 pages: 277 event_title: UCL (University College London) institution: UCL (University College London) department: London Centre for Nanotechnology & Division of Medicine thesis_type: Doctoral editors_name: McKendry, RM citation: Turbé, Valérian; (2017) Towards a smartphone-connected point-of-care test for HIV. Doctoral thesis , UCL (University College London). Green open access document_url: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1546573/11/Thesis_VT_final.pdf