Application Of Quartz Crystal Microbalance Research Articles

Development of an Impedance and QCM-Based Electrochemical Biosensor for the Detection of Colon Cancer-Secreted Protein-2 (CCSP-2), a Potential Colorectal Cancer Biomarker

Research on colon cancer diagnosis is advancing due to the application of electrochemical biosensors. Early screening can significantly reduce the overall mortality rate from colorectal cancer (CRC). Colon cancer-secreted protein-2 (CCSP-2) is specifically overexpressed and secreted by cancerous cells and adenomas found in the colon. Utilizing a cost-effective and non-invasive electrochemical immunosensor for CCSP-2 detection can aid in the early diagnosis of disease recurrences in individuals with colon cancer. In this work, we designed a simplified electrochemical immunosensor consisting of a functionalized gold (Au) electrode using cysteine-modified recombinant protein G (RPGCys) to immobilize the CCSP-2 antibody. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) have been used to analyze the electrochemical response caused by the binding between the target CCSP-2 and anti-CCSP-2, and there are significant changes observed for charge transfer resistance (Rct) in EIS and current density in CV. The quantification of mass changes attributed to binding events within the sensor will be determined through the application of quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). Angle-resolved X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (ARXPS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) will be used for the characterization of the sensor surface. The sensor's sensitivity and specificity will be assessed through the determination of the limit of detection and comprehensive testing of the probe with varied proteins and cell lines sourced from both cancerous and non-cancerous patient samples. This electrochemical probe is expected to enable the rapid and direct detection of early-stage colorectal cancer.

Applications of quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation in nanomedicine (QCM-D): a personal experience

Due to their unique physical and chemical properties, the potential application of nanomaterials in medicine is partic¬ularly attractive. Despite the many advantages that nanomaterials can offer as diagnostic and therapeutic tools, their transition from the bench to clinical practice is extremely challenging. One of the many barriers that nanomedicines may encounter is their toxicological effect. In fact, the development of novel nanomaterials / nanoparticles must pro¬ceed always in tandem with the assessment of any potential toxicological effects associated to them. Once nano¬materials reach the systemic circulation, they interact with endothelial cells, plasma proteins, and other blood compo¬nents. There is no doubt that the study of nanomaterials-blood interactions is crucial to warrant the biocompatibility of nanomaterials developed for human use.

Measurement of liquid viscosity using quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) based on GA-BP neural network.

Sensor technology plays a pivotal role in various aspects of the petroleum industry. The conventional quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) liquid-phase detection method fails to discern the viscosity and density of solutions separately, rendering it incapable of characterizing the properties of unknown liquid solutions. This presents a formidable challenge to the application of QCM in the petroleum industry. In this study, we aim to assess the feasibility of exclusively utilizing a single QCM sensor for liquid viscosity measurements. Validation experiments were conducted, emphasizing the influence of temperature and solution concentration on the viscosity measurement results. The results indicate that the QCM liquid viscosity response model can achieve viscosity measurements in the temperature range of 20 to 60 °C and concentration range of 10%-95% glycerol solution using a single QCM, with a maximum error of 7.32%. Simultaneously, with the objective of enhancing the model's measurement precision, as an initial investigation, we employed a backpropagation neural network combined with genetic algorithm (to optimize the measurement data. The results demonstrate a substantial improvement in the measurement accuracy of the QCM sensor, with a root mean square error of 3.89 and an absolute error of 3.07% in predicting viscosity values. The purpose of this research was to extend neural networks into the evaluation system of QCM sensors for assessing the viscosity properties of liquid in the oil industry, providing insights into the application of QCM sensors in the petroleum industry for viscosity measurement and improving measurement accuracy.

Quartz crystal microbalance in soft and biological interfaces.

Applications of quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation to studying soft and biological interfaces are reviewed. The focus is primarily on data analysis through viscoelastic modeling and a model-free approach focusing on the acoustic ratio. Current challenges and future research and development directions are discussed.

Response Law of Series Resonant Resistance under the Droplet Model of Quartz Crystal Microbalance

Liquid viscosity measurement, especially the accurate detection of high-viscosity liquid, has been a hot research in biomedical, petrochemical, and other industries. In this article, a series resonant resistance response of quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) under the droplet model is introduced to characterize the density and viscosity of the liquid. The experimental results of water, glycerol solution with 50% water content, and pure glycerol show that the resonant resistance has a similar response to the resonant frequency and higher stability. Compared with the traditional method in which QCM contacts liquid on one side, this new method has the advantages of extremely high-quality factor, wide measurement range, and minimal reagent requirement, which has important guiding significance for the application of QCM in high-viscosity liquids.

New Application of Quartz Crystal Microbalance: A Minimalist Strategy to Extract Adsorption Enthalpy.

The capture and separation of CO2 is an important means to solve the problem of global warming. MOFs (metal-organic frameworks) are considered ideal candidates for capturing CO2, where the adsorption enthalpy is a crucial indicator for the screening of materials. For this purpose, we propose a new minimalist solution using QCM (quartz crystal microbalance) to extract the CO2 adsorption enthalpy on MOFs. Three kinds of MOFs with different properties, sizes and morphologies were employed to study the adsorption enthalpy of CO2 using a QCM platform and a commercial gas sorption analyzer. A Gaussian simulation calculation and previously data reported were used for comparison. It was found that the measuring errors were between 5.4% and 6.8%, proving the reliability and versatility of our new method. This low-cost, easy-to-use, and high-accuracy method will provide a rapid screening solution for CO2 adsorption materials, and it has potential in the evaluation of the adsorption of other gases.

The application of quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) to study adhesion of platelets under flow conditions

Background and Aims : The QCM-D system was applied to study the effects of prostacyclin (PGI2)-, nitric oxide (NO)-, and carbon monoxide (CO) on αIIbβ3-mediated platelet adhesion in washed human platelets.

Exploration of the Mass Sensitivity of Quartz Crystal Microbalance under Overtone Modes Using Electrodeposition Method.

With the in-depth application of quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) sensors in the fields of science and engineering, there is an urgent need for QCM sensors with high mass sensitivity. The mass sensitivity of a QCM is closely related to its resonance frequency, and the high resonance frequency leads to improve its mass sensitivity. However, the resonance frequency of a QCM resonator cannot be increased all the time due to the fragility of quartz wafer and the limits of energy trapping effect. Few studies are associated with mass sensitivity of a QCM resonator under overtone modes. Herein, we propose to make a QCM resonator work in its n-th overtone (n = 3, 5, 7, 9 in this study) mode to increase its resonance frequency during operating. Thereby, the purpose of improving QCM mass sensitivity is achieved, and the mass sensitivity of a QCM working in the n-th overtone mode can be called as n-th overtone mass sensitivity. Then, the n-th overtone mass sensitivity of a QCM sensor is measured by an electrodeposition method. The experimental results show that the n-th overtone mass sensitivity of a QCM is a bit more than n times that of the fundamental mass sensitivity, and it is consistent with the theoretical calculation results. The application of overtone mass sensitivity will greatly improve the sensitivity of QCM sensors, which is very attractive for the research fields that require QCM sensors with high sensitivity.

Measurement of liquid viscosity using series resonant resistance response of quartz crystal microbalance

Liquid viscosity measurement is widely used in petrochemical, medical and other fields, while the traditional viscosity measurement equipment is usually cumbersome and costly. This paper introduces a method for measuring the viscosity of liquid using the series resonant resistance response model of quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). In the confirmatory experiments of water and glycerol solution with 50% water content, the maximum absolute error is less than 4.50%, which shows the accuracy and validity of the theoretical model. At the same time, we found that the series resonant resistance response has higher accuracy and stability than the frequency response in the field test results of the viscosity of 0# diesel. This study is of great significance to the application of QCM in the liquid phase and has broad application prospects in the field of viscosity detection.

Overview of Quartz Crystal Microbalance Behavior Analysis and Measurement

Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) is one of the many acoustic transducers. It is the most popular and widely used acoustic transducer for sensor applications. It has found wide applications in chemical and biosensing fields owing to its high sensitivity, robustness, small sized-design, and ease of integration with electronic measurement systems. However, it is necessary to coat QCM with a sensing film. Without coating materials, its selectivity and sensitivity are not obtained. At present, this is not an issue, mainly due to the advancement of oscillator circuits and dedicated measurement circuits. Since a new researcher may seek to understand QCM sensors, we provide an overview of QCM from its fundamental knowledge. Then, we explain some of the recent QCM applications both in gas-phase and liquid-phase. Next, the theory of QCM is introduced by using piezoelectric stress equations and the Mason equivalent circuit, which explains how the QCM behavior is obtained. Then, the conventional equations that govern QCM behaviors in terms of resonant frequency and resistance are described. We show the behavior of QCM with a viscous film based on the acoustic wave equation and Mason equivalent circuit. Then, we present various existing QCM electronic measurement methods. Furthermore, we describe the experiment on QCM with viscous loading and its interpretation based on the Mason equivalent circuit. Lastly, we review some theoretical models to describe QCM behavior with various models.

Application of quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) to study low-temperature adsorption and fouling of milk fractions on stainless steel

In food manufacturing, fouling of surfaces has deleterious effects on the efficiency of operations. The intensity of fouling varies with product formulation and processing temperature. Quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) is a small-scale tool with the potential to predict fouling on a larger scale. The adsorption of milk fractions on stainless steel was investigated at 25, 50, and 65 °C using QCM-D. Mass density was quantified using the Voigt viscoelastic model and a modified Hill model. Permeate (pH 6.6) was unstable at 65 °C, near the precipitation temperature of calcium phosphate. Acid whey (pH 4.6) demonstrated significant constant-rate adsorption at long processing times. It is anticipated that linear adsorption rates at extended times can be used to predict fouling propensity at a commercial scale. These results provide the foundation for the use of QCM-D to study milk adsorption and fouling at higher temperatures (>65 °C).

Application of QCM in Peptide and Protein-Based Drug Product Development

AT-cut quartz crystals vibrating in the thickness-shear mode (TSM), especially quartz crystal resonators (QCRs), are well known as very efficient mass sensitive systems because of their sensitivity, accuracy, and biofunctionalization capacity. They are highly reliable in the measurement of the mass of deposited samples, in both gas and liquid matrices. Moreover, they offer real-time monitoring, as well as relatively low production and operation costs. These features make mass sensitive systems applicable in a wide range of different applications, including studies on protein and peptide primary packaging, formulation, and drug product manufacturing process development. This review summarizes the information on some particular implementations of quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) instruments in protein and peptide drug product development as well as their future prospects.

Uniformization of Mass Sensitivity Distribution of Silver Electrode QCM.

Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) is a highly sensitive mass sensor and has been widely used in many fields. However, the nonuniform distribution of mass sensitivity will lead to poor reproducibility of QCM, which is not conducive to the application of QCM in some fields. Considering the effect of electrode shape, size, and material on mass sensitivity distribution, we found that for an AT-cut QCM with a fundamental frequency of 10 MHz, when the inner and outer diameters of silver ring electrode and the electrode loading factor are 2 and 5 mm and 0.0033, respectively, an approximately uniform mass sensitivity distribution can be obtained. The plating experiment in which rigid silver films were plated on the surface of electrode verified the uniformity. The uniform mass sensitivity distribution will make the application of QCM more convenient; the reproducibility can also be improved. This design of QCM will enrich QCM products and facilitate the application of QCM in various fields.

A new QCM signal enhancement strategy based on streptavidin@metal-organic framework complex for miRNA detection

Sensitive and selective detection of miRNA is of great significance for the early diagnosis of human diseases, especially for cancers. Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) is an effective tool for detecting biological molecules; however, the application of QCM for miRNA detection is still very limited. One of the great needs for QCM detection is to further improve the QCM signal. Herein, for the first time, we promote a new signal enhancement strategy for the detection of miRNA by QCM. First, a hairpin biotin-modified DNA was used as a probe DNA, which exposes the biotin site when interacting with target miRNA. Then, a streptavidin@metal-organic framework (SA@MOF) complex formed by electrostatic attractions between SA and a MOF was introduced into the QCM detection system. The SA@MOF complexes serve as both a signal amplifier and a specific recognition element via specific biotin-SA interactions. The strategy was applied to the detection of a colorectal cancer marker, miR-221, by using a stable Zr(IV)-MOF, UiO-66-NH2. The detection linear range was 10 fM-1 nM, the detection limit was 6.9 fM, and the relative standard deviation (RSD) (n = 5) was lower than 10% in both simulated conditions and the real serum environment. Furthermore, the detection limit reached 0.79 aM when coupled with the isothermal exponential amplification reaction (EXPAR).

Investigation of metallic nanoparticles adsorbed on the QCM sensor by SEM and AFM techniques

Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) is known as a very sensitive device used for determination of mass quantity adsorbed on sensor surface. Its detection limits are in the range of ng cm\(^{-2}\). The adsorption mechanism of metallic nanoparticles on QCM sensor was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). This study aims to highlight the importance of QCM applications in nanoparticles deposition field. The layers formed through adsorption process, induced by the oscillations of the QCM sensor, were investigated by AFM for surface topography and for particle mean size values. The morphology of layers and nanoparticles dimensions were determined by SEM. For a more complex investigation of the nanoparticles adsorption mechanism, the chemical composition of layers was achieved using SEM coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (SEM-EDS). This preliminary research involved a new approach in characterization of metallic nanoparticles layers to achieve functional assembled monolayers.

In Situ Acoustic Diagnostics of Particle-Binder Interactions in Battery Electrodes

Summary The high phase-transformation strain developed upon intercalation in the host particles of a composite battery electrode affects the polymeric binder network mechanically, deteriorating the electrode cycling performance. Here, electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (EQCM-D) is used to demonstrate a new strain-accommodation mechanism, in high-strain NaFePO 4 /PVdF electrodes, via relaxation of the binder network surrounding the intercalation particles. Complete mechanical degradation of the polymer network occurs during long-term cycling of NaFePO 4 electrodes in aqueous solutions (hard and tough behavior). In contrast, in aprotic solutions, a softened binder easily accommodates the high transformation strain, ensuring excellent electrode cycling performance (soft and tough behavior). Quantification of the high-frequency viscoelastic properties of an operating composite electrode linked to the binder's fracture toughness ensures fast and facile screening of the optimal polymeric binder/electrolyte solution combinations. This methodology should be extremely important for optimization of cycling performance of Li-Si anodes undergoing huge volume changes during cycling.

Quartz crystal microbalance as a device to measure the yield stress of colloidal suspensions

The application of quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) as a device to measure the rheology of colloidal suspensions has been studied. Using a commercial dip-probe QCM, the yield stress of magnesium hydroxide suspensions has been correlated to the resonance properties of a 5 MHz AT-cut quartz sensor. A stable resonance baseline was first established in air before submerging the sensor into the colloidal suspension. The response of the sensor resistance was shown to correlate to changes in the suspension yield stress, while the frequency response was found to result from more complex contact mechanics and suspension viscoelasticity contributions. Since the QCM is a relatively simple technique with no mechanically moving parts, this approach offers the potential for rapid in situ rheology assessment.

The temperature effect of AT-cut input quartz parameters on QCM effective properties calculated with equivalent circuit models

In what follows, AT-cut quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) effective properties for two commercial QCM substrates, are calculated as a function of temperature, while varying the degree of implementation regarding the temperature dependence of input quartz parameters in the transmission line (TL) model. Results for the effective quartz viscosity, oscillation area and external capacitance, are in qualitative agreement per property, irrespective of the implemented, input quartz parameter set for the calculations. However, the effective quartz thickness accounts for the quartz thermal expansion effect, only when quartz density is temperature adjusted, whereas quantitative deviations in the effective oscillation area, are qualitatively explained in the light of literature correlations, which relate the implemented input quartz parameter set, with inherent QCM energy dissipation metrics, and the magnitude of energy trapping. Moreover, the varying degree of input quartz parameter adjustment with temperature, yields qualitative and quantitative deviations from the expected response, in terms of a QCM quality metric, the C0/C1 ratio. Results suggest that the precision in the determination of the static capacitance C0 and the QCM effective properties incorporated therein, can be improved, with potential improvements in relevant, liquid or gas phase QCM applications.

Novel Approach to Prepare Ultrathin Lignocellulosic Film for Monitoring Enzymatic Hydrolysis Process by Quartz Crystal Microbalance

The applications of quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) rely heavily on the preparation of ultrathin films. So far, techniques on direct lignocellulosic film making without components isolation have been hardly investigated. In this work, a novel approach was developed to prepare spin-coated ultrathin films based on the complete dissolution of ball-milled wood in LiCl/DMSO solvent system. The surface analysis and elemental composition of the films respectively using atomic force microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy proved that an even-textured lignocellulosic film could be formed on QCM gold sensors. The prepared ultrathin films were successfully applied on monitoring the enzymatic hydrolysis process in situ and in real time by QCM. The changes of QCM frequency showed clearly that the enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulosic materials could be divided into three stages, including cellulase adsorption, fast substrate hydrolysis, and slow substrate hydrolysis. The adsorption and hydrolysis processes...

Progresses on the theory and application of quartz crystal microbalance

Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) is a nondestructive technique in investigating the physical properties of solid-liquid interfacial layer in situ. It has the capability of quantifying the extremely tiny force change occurring on the interface by measuring the frequency shift Δ f and the energy dissipation change Δ D (or the half-bandwidth variation Δ Γ). The quantitative analysis of QCM results greatly depends on the theoretical models, whose development could generally expand the comprehension of the properties at the interfaces and the application of QCM. In the paper, the progresses on the theory and applications of QCM are reviewed. The commonly used theoretical models for a single layer in the gas/liquid phase are essential for QCM in the fields of biosensor application, surface chemistry study, and interfacial rheology, such as the adsorption of proteins, the polymer and surfactants, and the viscoelastic properties of the interfacial liquid layer. The advanced models, incorporating the effects of b...