| Biomarkers are molecules which provide indication of the state and progression of a disease or its response to therapeutic interventions. This thesis is concerned with new technologies exploiting biomarkers to enable portable and low-cost personal clinical care (e.g. {dollar}10/test).; By activating nanopore devices with probe molecules which have affinity for the specific biomarkers, we can electrically interrogate several biological processes such as immunocomplex formation and DNA hybridization. To understand and design such bioelectrical devices, we have developed a simulator for modeling their electrical characteristics and used it to predict protein orientation on a surface. Results of this model are in agreement with the experimental observations of immobilization of two mitochondrial proteins. Further, we show the predictive modeling of the electrical properties of bioactivated electrodes, and finally the predictive modeling of bioactivated nanopores.; To validate the proposed technology experimentally, we have devised and fabricated bioactivated nanopores for the electrical detection of a single immunocomplex formation and nucleic-acid biomarkers, and also for the quantification of the concentration of protein biomarkers. We also demonstrate the control of the nanopores wall potential and associated nanopore-molecule interactions which represents an important feature in bioanalysis with nanopore devices.; In order to analyze particular cells of interest in complex biological samples containing heterogeneous cell populations, these cells must be sufficiently pure. We present a new system that successfully captures and purifies live rare cells from human blood. |
