Date of Award
December 2020
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Bioengineering
Committee Member
Terri Bruce
Committee Member
R. Kenneth Marcus
Committee Member
Jeoung Soo Lee
Committee Member
Brian W Booth
Abstract
Ovarian cancer (OC) is characterized by late stage discovery and low survivability. However, when diagnosed early (Stages I or II) the 5-year survival rate is 92% up from 29%.5 The extreme dichotomy in survivability is what makes OC a prime candidate for early diagnosis techniques. Exosomes, a subtype of extracellular vesicles, may bridge the gap between early and late diagnosis, but are lacking consistent isolation and detection technologies. Here poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) capillary channeled polymer (C-CP) fibers employing an HIC protocol are investigated as a novel exosome isolation method and a quick, inexpensive, and easy-to-use platform for OC diagnosis. The cell model system, immunoaffinity protocols, and biomarker identification tools developed here will aid in the refinement of a selective PET C-CP exosome isolation. The exosome isolation and diagnostic technique developed as a result of these investigations will allow for earlier and routine diagnosis of OC and save many women from one of the deadliest cancers.
Recommended Citation
Slonecki, Tyler, "Development of Extracellular Vesicle Isolation and Model Systems Toward Early Ovarian Cancer Diagnostics" (2020). All Dissertations. 2734.
https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/all_dissertations/2734