Repositori URV

Identifier: TDX:1138

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/TDX1138

Authors:
Rosales Rivera, Luis Carlos

Abstract:
Coeliac disease (CD), a gluten-sensitive enteropathy, is an autoimmune disorder of the upper small intestine triggered from the gluten ingestion (cereal protein found in wheat, rye and barley) and affects 1% of the population around the globe. The ingestion of gluten, triggers the production of a series of autoantibodies against gliadin (AGA) and tissue transglutaminase (anti-tTG) which can provoke inflammation and damage some parts of the intestine. The detection of those antibodies through serological testing represent a non-invasive, fast and reliable approach. The main objective of this Thesis is the development of a sensitive, rapid and cost-efficient real-sample-oriented immunosensor using thiol-self assembled monolayers on gold surfaces. Two strategies for the antigen immobilisation have been investigated: i) The use of monolayers of a carboxylic acid-ended bipodal alkanethiol, ii) The introduction of disulfide groups through three different moieties of the antigens: amine, carboxylic and hydroxyl. Both immunosensor approaches were optimized and used for the amperometric detection of CD serological markers from human serum samples.