Determination of albumin concentration by MIP-QCM sensor

Abstract

An MIP-QCM sensor able to detect micro-determine albumin concentrations was prepared by imprinting albumin with 3-dimethylaminopropyl methacrylamide-acrylate. The albumin MIP was coated on a QCM Au electrode. The adsorption characteristics of different electrodes, such as Au–OH, Au–COOH, Au–NH 2 and Au electrodes, with albumin or mixture was examined. In the tetraethyleneglycol dimethacrylate crosslinking agent system, the adsorption capacity of different Au electrodes is in the order Au–OH > Au–COOH > Au–NH 2 > Au. Additionally, the time taken to receive a steady-state frequency is in the order Au–NH 2 < Au–OH < Au–COOH < Au. However, in the trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate crosslinking agent system, the adsorption capacity is in the order Au > Au–NH 2 > Au–OH > Au–COOH electrode. Hence, the crosslinking agent had a significant effect on the MIP-QCM. On the adsorption selectivity, the albumin MIP-QCM exhibited higher response to albumin, the adsorption mass ratio of cytochrome c:lysozyme:albumin:myoglobin was 160:1:1942:30. On the other hand, in the non-MIP-QCM, the adsorption mass ratio of cytochrome c:lysozyme:albumin:myoglobin was 13:1:249:86. Additionally, a linear fitting was established and a clinical real sample was tested. This novel potential application of molecular imprinting to the recognition element of an MIP-QCM sensor appears to be promising.