Nanoscale Gold for Enhanced Protein Electrochemistry, Ebolavirus Immunosensors, and In Vivo Distribution Measurements

Abstract

Different applications using gold at the nanoscale level are discussed in this dissertation. The first section includes relevant background into nanoparticles, specifically, monolayer protected gold clusters (MPC), and how they can be used in a myriad of applications. In the second and third section, a quartz crystal microbalance biosensor to detect ebolavirus and its glycoproteins is discussed. Included is an understanding instrument operation and how the biosensor’s gold surface is tailored to increase efficiency and potential reusability. The fourth section of the dissertation covers the covalent linking of cytochrome-c to gold MPCs, and delves into the electrochemical properties of the new bioconjugate. In the last chapter, in vivo experiments utilizing a mouse model explore gold MPCs as a possible platform for vaccine development or contrast agent. The aforementioned chapters show the versatility of gold at the nanoscale level as it was used to successfully detect ebolavirus, allow electron transfer between itself and a protein, and map distribution in vivo using a model system.