Molecularly imprinted polymers for applications in proteomics and diagnostics

  • Magdalena Switnicka-Plak

Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis

Abstract

Amongst enumerated types of biomarkers are Pro-Gastrin-Releasing Peptide,Aβ-amyloid and α-Synuclein peptides. ProGRP is reported as a highly specific new biomarker for Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC). Aggregates of Aβ and α-Synuclein peptides are in the group of biomarkers with importance in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and Parkinson's Disease (PD), respectively. Therapy and/or drugs work most efficiently in the early stage of AD, PD and SCLC, however in most cases diagnoses are made too late and only after a time when significant progress of pathological change is observed. Therefore, there is a significant demand in the market for cheap and fast diagnostic tools that could allow for the reliable detection of AD, PD and SCLC in their early stages. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are synthetic materials with outstanding affinity and selectivity for a given target molecule. Their low production cost, reusability and high reproducibility make them attractive candidates for the next generation of separation materials, with potential applications to AD, PD and SCLC.;The purpose of this study was to design, synthesise, characterise and exploit the next generation of MIPs that can enable the selective extractions of targets from native blood or cerebrospinal fluid samples. In this Thesis, a generic synthetic protocol for the synthesis of protein-imprinted polymers was developed. The method allows for the rapid production of peptide imprinted polymers in a convenient microsphere format. In fact, four different formats of MIPs for the peptide-based biomarkers were developed and described. Selected materials were supplied to the PEPMIP partners for the determination of their molecular recognition character and use in proteomics and diagnostics applications. A new, sensitive on-line assay for SCLC has been developed using these materials and good progress made towards a magnetic capture protocol.
Date of Award7 Mar 2019
Original languageEnglish
Awarding Institution
  • University Of Strathclyde
SupervisorPeter Cormack (Supervisor) & Craig Jamieson (Supervisor)

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