Microfabrication of electrochemical analytical devices for detection of pathogen species DNA and toxic metal ions

Water quality is a crucial factor in determining the health of an environment, and in turn the health of all those living in the given environment. Early detection of potential hazards in water sources would help to avoid outbreaks of sickness and even death. Current methods for detection of these contaminants are extremely expensive and time consuming. This thesis provides an in-depth investigation into electrochemical techniques that can be used to develop cost effective, portable, and easy to use devices.;The specific contaminants used in the testing process for varying electrochemical techniques include lead ions, cadmium ions, and DNA sequences from a common parasite Cryptosporidium parvum. Lead and cadmium ions were selected because of their convenient and well-known electrochemical properties. C. parvum was chosen because many of the different genotypes genetic sequences are available in public databases. A novel platform for detection was introduced for quickly distinguishing between different species of C. parvum. The platform allowed for improved selectivity and response time of current electrochemical techniques. A microelectrode array was designed and tested for the detection of metal ions, but also has the potential to incorporate detection of pathogenic microorganisms. This array provides a quick and simple test that is capable of detecting such contaminants at low concentrations. Six electrodes were incorporated into one microfluidic device, allowing for multiple tests to be performed simply by switching the active electrode.