QCM-D providing new horizon in the domain of sensitivity range and information for haemostasis of human plasma.

Monitoring of the haemostasis status is significant for proper therapeutic directions and decisions in surgery and innate coagulation disorders. In this regard, to gain a general overview of the plasmatic coagulation, prothrombin time (PT) tests are frequently combined with tests for activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT). For aPTT we report for the first time that a QCM-D (Quartz Crystal Microbalances with Dissipation) based technique offers a better alternative to the standard coagulometer method in the perspective of range and information. We used heparin as anticoagulant to generate different coagulation times for human plasma. QCM-D astonishingly proved to be more sensitive and reliable than the standard coagulometer for aPTT range of upper limits of coagulation times. The established platform can monitor the fibrinogen concentration ranging from 1-6g/L (yielding R(2)=0.98 in calibration curves) along with aPTT from frequency and dissipation shifts together in a single set of measurements. Additionally the sensor layers have been tested for reusability, demonstrating no loss in sensor characteristics up to ten times measurements.

A highly sensitive quartz crystal microbalance immunosensor based on magnetic bead-supported bienzymes catalyzed mass enhancement strategy.

A highly sensitive quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) immunosensor based on magnetic bead-supported bienzyme catalyzed mass enhanced strategy was developed for the detection of human immunoglobulin G (hIgG) protein. The high sensitive detection was achieved by increasing the deposited mass on the QCM crystal through the enhanced precipitation of 4-chloro-1-naphthol (CN) using higher amounts of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and glucose oxidase (GOx) bienzymes attached on the magnetic beads (MB). The protein A (PA) and capture antibody (monoclonal anti-human IgG antibody produced in mouse, Ab1)-based QCM probe and the detection antibody (anti-human IgG antibody produced in goat, Ab2)-based MB/HRP/GOx bienzymatic bioconjugates were characterized using scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, cyclic voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy techniques. Under the optimized experimental condition, the linear range and the detection limit of hIgG immunosensor were determined to be 5.0pg/mL-20.0ng/mL and 5.0±0.18pg/mL, respectively. The applicability of the present hIgG immunosensor was examined in hIgG spiked human serum samples and excellent recoveries of hIgG were obtained.

Probing biomolecular interaction forces using an anharmonic acoustic technique for selective detection of bacterial spores.

Receptor-based detection of pathogens often suffers from non-specific interactions, and as most detection techniques cannot distinguish between affinities of interactions, false positive responses remain a plaguing reality. Here, we report an anharmonic acoustic based method of detection that addresses the inherent weakness of current ligand dependant assays. Spores of Bacillus subtilis (Bacillus anthracis simulant) were immobilized on a thickness-shear mode AT-cut quartz crystal functionalized with anti-spore antibody and the sensor was driven by a pure sinusoidal oscillation at increasing amplitude. Biomolecular interaction forces between the coupled spores and the accelerating surface caused a nonlinear modulation of the acoustic response of the crystal. In particular, the deviation in the third harmonic of the transduced electrical response versus oscillation amplitude of the sensor (signal) was found to be significant. Signals from the specifically-bound spores were clearly distinguishable in shape from those of the physisorbed streptavidin-coated polystyrene microbeads. The analytical model presented here enables estimation of the biomolecular interaction forces from the measured response. Thus, probing biomolecular interaction forces using the described technique can quantitatively detect pathogens and distinguish specific from non-specific interactions, with potential applicability to rapid point-of-care detection. This also serves as a potential tool for rapid force-spectroscopy, affinity-based biomolecular screening and mapping of molecular interaction networks.

Piezoelectric immunosensor for direct and rapid detection of staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) at the ng level.

A direct, label-free immunosensor was designed for the rapid detection and quantification of staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) in buffered solutions using quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) as transduction method. The sensing layer including the anti-SEA antibody was constructed by chemisorption of a self-assembled monolayer of cysteamine on the gold electrodes placed over the quartz crystal sensor followed by activation of the surface amino groups with the rigid homobifunctional cross-linker 1,4-phenylene diisothiocyanate (PDITC) and covalent linking of binding protein (protein A or protein G). Four anti-SEA antibodies (two of which from commercial source) have been selected to set up the most sensitive detection device. With the optimized sensing layer, a standard curve for the direct assay of SEA was established from QCM-D responses within a working range of 50-1000 or 2000 ngml(-1) with a detection limit of 20 ngml(-1). The total time for analysis was 15 min. Using a sandwich type assay, the response was ca. twice higher and consequently the lowest measurable concentration dropped down to 7 ngml(-1) for a total assay time of 25 min.

Probing fundamental film parameters of immobilized enzymes--towards enhanced biosensor performance. Part II-Electroanalytical estimation of immobilized enzyme performance.

The method of immobilization of a protein has a great influence on the overall conformation, and hence, functioning of the protein. Thus, a greater understanding of the events undergone by the protein during immobilization is key to manipulating the immobilization method to produce a strategy that influences the advantages of immobilization while minimizing their disadvantages in biosensor design. In this, the second paper of a two-part series, we have assessed the kinetic parameters of thin-film laccase monolayers, covalently attached to SAMs differing in spacer-arm length and lateral density of spacer arms. This was achieved using chronoamperometry and an electroactive product (p-benzoquinone), which was modeled in a non-linear regressional fashion to extract the relevant parameters. Finally, comparisons between the kinetic parameters presented in this paper and the rheological parameters of laccase monolayers immobilized in the same manner (Part I of this two paper series) were performed. Improvements in the maximal enzyme-catalysed current, i(max), the apparent Michaelis-Menten constant, K(m) and the apparent biosensor sensitivity were noted for most of the surfaces with increasing linker length. Decreasing the lateral density of the spacer-arms brought about a general improvement in these parameters, which is attributed to the decrease in multiple points of immobilization undergone by functional proteins. Finally, comparisons between rheological data and kinetics data showed that the degree of viscosity exhibited by protein films has a negative influence on attached protein layers, while enhanced protein hydration levels (assessed piezoelectrically from data obtained in Paper 1) has a positive effect on those surfaces comprising rigidly bound protein layers.

Evaluation of different micro/nanobeads used as amplifiers in QCM immunosensor for more sensitive detection of E. coli O157:H7.

Micro/nanobeads with different materials (magnetic, silica and polymer) and different sizes (diameters from 30nm to 970nm) were investigated for their use as amplifiers in a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) immunosensor for more sensitive detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7. The micro/nanobeads were conjugated with anti-E. coli antibodies. E. coli O157:H7 cells were first captured by the first antibody immobilized on the electrode surface, and then micro/nanobeads labeled secondary antibodies attached to the cells, and finally the complexes of antibody-E. coli-antibody modified beads were formed. The results showed that antibody-labeled beads lead to signal amplification in both the change in frequency (ΔF) and the change in resistance (ΔR). Since the penetration depth of the oscillation-induced shear-waves for a ∼8MHz crystal is limited to 200nm, the interpretation of how the signal is amplified by the adsorbed particles was represented in terms of the coupled-oscillator theory. The amplification is not sensed in terms of increase in mass on the sensor surface. Amplification is sensed as a change in bacterial resonance frequency when the spheres adsorb to the bacteria. The change in the values of ΔF caused by different micro/nanobeads (amplifiers) attaching on target bacterial cells is indicative of the ratio between the resonance frequency of the absorbed bacterial-particle complex (ω(s)), and the resonance frequency of the crystal (ω).

Detection of ß-amyloid peptide (1-16) and amyloid precursor protein (APP770) using spectroscopic ellipsometry and QCM techniques: a step forward towards Alzheimers disease diagnostics.

A highly sensitive method of spectroscopic ellipsometry in total internal reflection mode (TIRE) was exploited for detecting ß-amyloid peptide (Aß(1-16)) in the direct immune reaction with monoclonal DE2 antibodies (raised against Aß(1-16)) electrostatically immobilised on the surface of gold. A rapid detection of Aß(1-16) in a wide range of concentrations from 5 µg/ml down to 0.05 ng/ml was achieved using a cost-effective and label-free direct immunoassay format. TIRE dynamic spectral measurements proved that the immune reaction between DE2 monoclonal antibodies and Aß(1-16) is highly specific with the affinity constant K(D)=1.46×10(-8) mol/l. The same DE2 antibodies were utilised for detection of amyloid precursor protein APP(770), a larger protein containing Aß(1-16) domain, using the quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) measurements in liquid. A combination of QCM and TIRE kinetics results allowed the evaluation of the originally unknown concentration of APP(770) in complete medium solution containing other proteins, salts, and amino acids.