Abstract
Acoustic wave resonators have become suitable devices for a broad range of sensing applications due to their sensitivity, low cost, and integration capability, which are all factors that meet the requirements for the resonators to be used as sensing elements for portable point of care (PoC) platforms. In this work, the design, characterization, and validation of a 150 MHz high fundamental frequency quartz crystal microbalance (HFF-QCM) sensor for bio-sensing applications are introduced. Finite element method (FEM) simulations of the proposed design are in good agreement with the electrical characterization of the manufactured resonators. The sensor is also validated for bio-sensing applications. For this purpose, a specific sensor cell was designed and manufactured that addresses the critical requirements associated with this type of sensor and application. Due to the small sensing area and the sensor’s fragility, these requirements include a low-volume flow chamber in the nanoliter range, and a system approach that provides the appropriate pressure control for assuring liquid confinement while maintaining the integrity of the sensor with a good base line stability and easy sensor replacement. The sensor characteristics make it suitable for consideration as the elemental part of a sensor matrix in a multichannel platform for point of care applications.
Highlights
Point of care (PoC) devices are very promising diagnostic tools that can operate in different environments, from clinical labs to small-size hospitals or even at patient’s house, due to their unique characteristics
The widespread application of PoC devices in common clinic practice will increase the prospects for more efficient patient monitoring during treatment, or even make available early diagnostic mechanisms for disease prevention in high-risk populations
PoC platforms are typically based on genomics and/or proteomics for the detection stage, and require low cost, fast, sensitive, reliable and small-size transduction technologies in order to be successfully implemented [2]
Summary
Point of care (PoC) devices are very promising diagnostic tools that can operate in different environments, from clinical labs to small-size hospitals or even at patient’s house, due to their unique characteristics. PoC platforms are designed to provide fast assay results, be portable and compact, and operate in a simple and automatic way. Such systems can be operated by non-specialists and provide valuable information about a large variety of diseases, e.g., cancer, cardiovascular, and infectious diseases [1]. The widespread application of PoC devices in common clinic practice will increase the prospects for more efficient patient monitoring during treatment, or even make available early diagnostic mechanisms for disease prevention in high-risk populations. Food security, and environmental monitoring fields are all market applications in which acoustic sensing has shown
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