Smartphone-based fluorescence biosensor

• Main Author: Goh, Kenneth Jun Hui
• Other Authors: Pui Tze Sian
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2017
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Bioengineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/72038
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Fluorescence microscopy has been used for the study of many different biological processes, disease diagnosis, screening and testing. However, typical fluorescence microscopes are heavy and bulky, thus limiting functionality particularly in Point – Of – Care (POC) applications and on-site testing. Moreover, the equipment must be operated by trained personals, making the device non-user-friendly, and further dampening its utility for many people. This project aims to deliver a portable, cost effective smartphone based fluorescence microscope to solve this issues present in today’s commercial fluorescence microscopes. We demonstrate the use of smartphone spectrophotometry for readout of fluorescence molecule FITC-dextran 70 kDa dye in a Phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). A custom-designed casing to house optical components is 3D printed. Additionally, a visible LED excitation light source is built into the device. Fluorescence microscopy experiment revealed that the device achieves sensitivity of 2µg/ml. Our approach shows the smartphone system is capable of providing point-of-care applications and on-site testing.