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Browsing by Author "Cherwin, Amanda E., author"

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    Development of fluidic devices to facilitate more accessible monitoring of human health
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2024) Cherwin, Amanda E., author; Henry, Charles S., advisor; Tobet, Stuart A., advisor; Snow, Christopher, committee member; Abdo, Zaid, committee member
    In December of 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus outlined the 'Five P's' of global health priorities: Promoting health, Providing health, Protecting health, Powering health, and Performing for health. Despite the mantra of 'prevention is better than cure,' many countries still prioritize treating the sick over proactive health promotion, leading to inadequate prevention of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Access to healthcare services poses a significant barrier to early recognition and treatment of health issues, particularly in low-income communities. To address these challenges, harnessing the power of science and technology becomes imperative. Powering health involves leveraging scientific research and collaboration to understand disease mechanisms better. Physiologically relevant models, such as microfluidic systems, offer insights into disease progression. Microfluidics, especially when combined with 2D and 3D culture systems, enhances functionality by mimicking physiological conditions. These devices provide cost-effective solutions for diagnostic challenges, bridging the gap between in vitro and in vivo studies. Protecting health requires a deeper understanding of organ systems. Chapter 2 examines a microfluidic model of the gut, an organ that plays a critical role in maintaining overall health. Two devices are discussed, an organotypic device for maintaining ex vivo gut tissue explants, and an electrochemical sensor module for monitoring relevant molecules such as oxygen or hydrogen peroxide within the tissue media. Dysbiosis in the gut microbiome has been linked to various pathologies, emphasizing the need for accurate models for studying gut barrier integrity. Ex vivo models using microfluidic devices offer promising avenues for studying disease mechanisms. The devices described in Chapter 2 serve as an effective model of the intestinal barrier that can be closely monitored in real-time. Providing health involves making effective healthcare solutions universally accessible. Point-of-care (POC) diagnostics, facilitated by microfluidics, enable rapid and cost-effective disease detection. Capillary-driven flow microfluidic devices enhance accessibility by eliminating the need for bulky external pumps, making POC testing feasible even in resource-limited settings. Combining the concepts of Powering and Providing health leads to the development of innovative diagnostic devices. Capillary-driven flow microfluidics enables the development of portable devices for diagnosing conditions from viscous sample matrices like blood and saliva. These devices offer less invasive and more accessible alternatives to traditional diagnostic methods, potentially revolutionizing healthcare delivery. Chapter 3 describes a capillary flow device used to quantify levels of two salivary biomarkers (Galectin-3 and S100A7) correlated to Heart Failure (HF) outcomes. This rapid, noninvasive, accessible POC test can drastically improve the quality of life for HF patients, particularly in rural and resource-limited areas. Using an electrochemical detection method, we demonstrate successful multiplexed detection of both biomarkers in spiked buffer solutions. Chapter 4 focuses on microfluidic devices probing rheological properties of whole blood related to Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) and clotting using capillary flow. For the SCD device, our goal was to develop a low-cost Point-of-Care (POC) multiplexed device for rapid and accurate identification of SCD phenotypes using three key reagents tied to altered sickle cell blood rheology: calcium chloride, sodium metabisulfite, and adenosine diphosphate. We developed an integrated device where whole blood reacts with reagent pads, enabling rapid assessment of a patient's SCD phenotype to inform appropriate treatment. We also introduced the Paper-based Clotting Analysis Test (PCAT) for efficient, low-cost analysis of primary hemostasis. Current methods for monitoring hemostasis are expensive and slow. Our capillary flow device uses whole blood moving at high flow rates for sustained durations to induce thrombus formation. This dissertation bridges the gap between effective health monitoring and accessibility through fluidic devices using either pump-driven or capillary-driven flow. Chapters detail the development of microfluidic systems for monitoring intestinal barrier function, detecting biomarkers in saliva for Heart Failure prognosis, and processing blood samples for Sickle Cell Disease phenotyping and clotting analysis. Ultimately, these devices hold the potential to transform healthcare management, particularly in underserved communities.