[UCI-Calit2] Upcoming Lecture and Research Presentation

Anna Lynn Spitzer aspitzer at calit2.uci.edu
Fri Mar 2 14:48:43 PST 2007


Title:	Photopolymerization as a method of robust, inexpensive signal
amplification in the detection of biomolecular recognition

Speaker:	Hadley D. Sikes, Department of Chemical and Biological
Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder

Time and Date:	Seminar: 			10:30 a.m. Monday, March
5, 2007  
			Research Presentation: 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, March
6, 2007

Location:	Calit2 Building, Room 3008 (both events)

Abstract:	Molecular recognition events such as antibody-antigen
interactions and the hybridization of complementary nucleic acid
sequences are increasingly used in clinical settings to aid in the
diagnosis of disease. As the number of events to be detected decreases,
target and/or signal amplification becomes necessary, and the difficulty
and cost of detection increases. Sikes will present photopolymerization
as a new method of low-cost, rapid signal amplification that results in
large gains and is suitable for point-of-care and field-portable
diagnostic applications. The method relies on the localization of a
number of photo-initiator molecules on a surface only in areas where
molecular recognition has taken place. In the presence of an appropriate
monomer solution and low-intensity, long-wave UV light, polymer films
that are up to 10 microns thick and easily visible by eye can be grown
from surface-bound initiators. Photopolymerization has been compared
side-by-side with enzymatic amplification methods that are used in
commercially available optical immunoassays; results of this comparison
study will be presented and discussed.

Bio:	Sikes received her bachelor's degree in chemistry, summa cum
laude, from Tulane University, and her doctorate in physical chemistry
from Stanford. She is currently a postdoctoral fellow in chemical and
biological engineering at the University of Colorado. She has won a
number of honors and awards, including the National Institute of
Chemists Outstanding Postdoc Award 2005, the Burroughs Wellcome Fund
Career Award at the Scientific Interface, and the NIH National Research
Service Award (NRSA) for Postdoctoral Fellows. She is a member of the
American Chemical Society and the Materials Research Society.

More information: Andrea Bell-Wheelans, 949.824.9073 or
abell at calit2.uci.edu



More information about the UCI-Calit2 mailing list