ORCID Identifier(s)

0000-0003-1331-5901

Graduation Semester and Year

Summer 2024

Language

English

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical Engineering

Department

Electrical Engineering

First Advisor

Dr. Kambiz Alavi

Second Advisor

Dr. Robert Magnusson

Third Advisor

Dr. Jon Weidanz

Abstract

In this work, we developed and investigated the cancer cell killing efficacy of different instances using real-time high-sensitivity measurements facilitated by Guided-Mode Resonance (GMR) sensors. The GMR biosensor technology detects shifts in the spectral peak caused by changes in the refractive index of the surrounding medium, offering a label-free method for monitoring cellular events.

A549 cell line wild type and HER2 knockout (lung cancer cells) were exposed to different concentrations of Triton X-100 and ADC (Herceptin with αHFc-CL-DMDM). The GMR-based cell killing assay demonstrated exceptional sensitivity and specificity, with shifts in wavelength exhibiting a robust correlation with cell viability and MTS standard results. Using this method, we achieved a reduction in measurement time by several hours per experiment compared to traditional cytotoxicity assays such as MTS, and gained unique insights into the real-time evolution of the cell death process. Additionally, we integrated GMR biosensor data with machine learning to develop and optimize predictive models of cell toxicity. This approach enhanced the speed and efficiency of drug screening processes, and the development of a user-friendly R-Shiny application facilitated real-time predictions and comprehensive data analysis. Our optimization indicated a significant increase in performance, with a measured improvement of 7.0% compared to the default setting of Random Forest.

Overall, the GMR biosensor technology substantially advances the state of the art in real-time cell killing assays, offering a valuable tool for cancer research and drug development with improved sensitivity, accuracy, and efficiency.

Keywords

Guided-mode resonance, GMR, Optics, Biosensors, Optical, Cell killing assays, ADC, Antibody-drug conjugated

Disciplines

Biomedical Devices and Instrumentation | Biotechnology | Electrical and Electronics | Electro-Mechanical Systems

Available for download on Monday, August 03, 2026

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