ADVANCED ANALYTICAL BIOSENSING FOR CANCER DETECTION AND NEURAL DIAGNOSTICS USING TAPERED OPTICAL FIBER (TOF), PROTONIC, AND HIGH THROUGPUT MICROPLATE –BASED TECHNOLOGIE

Abstract

This dissertation investigates the development and application of advanced biosensing technologies to enhance early disease detection, neurological diagnostics, and bioactive compound evaluation. The research spans four key areas. First, it introduces tapered optical fiber (TOF)-based plasmonic biosensors for the non-invasive detection of prostate cancer, demonstrating high sensitivity and specificity compared to conventional diagnostic methods. Second, it explores the use of fluorescent biosensors to test the Transmembrane Electrostatically Localized Proton (TELP) theory, shedding light on the role of localized protons in neuronal signaling and energy transfer. Third, the work presents a high-throughput, microplate based biosensing platform for analyzing mitochondrial function under nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEFs), offering a label-free and cost-effective tool with implications for neurodegenerative disease research. Finally, the anticancer potential of Spirulina-derived peptides is assessed; although initial findings indicate cytotoxic effects on cancer cells, the data do not yet provide strong evidence of selective targeting when compared to non-cancerous cells, highlighting the need for further investigation. Collectively, these studies contribute to the advancement of biosensor engineering, bioanalytical validation, and real-world biomedical applications. The findings emphasize the potential of these technologies to provide non-invasive, sensitive, and accessible solutions for disease monitoring and therapeutic development. Despite the promising results, the dissertation also identifies existing challenges and limitations, paving the way for future research in translational biosensing technologies