9733207 Kang Protein C (PC) is an important blood plasma protein which prevents unwanted clots and also dissolves formed clots in the human body. With PC deficiency, either by hereditary or acquired, the human body can encounter serious medical complications due to blood coagulation that can lead to embolisms that injure lung, heart, and brain tissue, and can cause death. A practical, clinical PC biosensor for the diagnosis of PC deficiency should have the attributes of high sensitivity, high specificity, and real-time measurement. The proposed mechanism depends on a highly specific antigen-antibody reaction. It involves binding antibodies at the surface of an optical fiber, injection of the sample into a micro chamber (300 micro liter) encasing the fiber, reacting light emitting secondary antibodies with the absorbed PC molecules on the fiber, and quantifying the PC concentration by the emitted light intensity. It is proposed to apply total quality management (TQM) concepts in both graduate and undergraduate bioengineering education and research. This project emphasizes the structured team approach to bring together basic scientists, bioengineers (biomedical and bioprocess engineers), clinicians, business, and legal professionals to address optimum process development for the production of the best bioproduct at minimum cost. ***
