Handheld stand-alone microfluidics compatible field use fluorimeter for analyzing the concentration of analytes in a sample

Abstract

This thesis presents the work performed to produce a handheld fluorometric tool for the analysis of microfluidics lab chips. The first section of this thesis describes the methods used for the design and development of this fluorometric tool. Each of the major components was tested individually to determine how effectively it would perform under different circumstances and configurations. Compensations were made for the weaknesses identified in each of the major components. The second section describes the laboratory testing of the developed photofluorimeter. Initial testing was carried out using a photo fluorescent tracer dye known as fluorescein sodium salt. Additional testing was performed using D-glutamic acid as a target chemical and 2,3-naphthalenedicarboxaldehyde (NDA) as the marker fluorophore. The resulting fluorimeter was capable of reading fluorescein and NDA labeled D-glutamic acid at the single μM concentration level. The data show a linear relationship between sample concentrations and the readings provided by the sensor.