Journal of Sensor Technology, 2014, 4, 81-100

Published Online June 2014 in SciRes. http://www.scirp.org/journal/jst

http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/jst.2014.42009

Application of Nanoparticles in Quartz

Crystal Microbalance Biosensors
Somayeh Heydari*, Gholam Hossein Haghayegh
Faculty of Agriculture, Higher Education Complex of Torbat-e Jam, Torbat-e Jam, Iran
*
Email: [email protected], [email protected]
Received 24 April 2014; revised 23 May 2014; accepted 23 June 2014
Copyright 2014 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc.
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY).
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Abstract
Nanoparticles are playing an increasingly important role in the development of biosensors. The
sensitivity and performance of biosensors are being improved by using Nanoparticles for their
construction. The use of these Nanoparticles has allowed the introduction of many new signal
transduction technologies in biosensors. In this report, a comprehensive review of application of
nanoparticles in Quartz Crystal Microbalance biosensors is presented. The main advantages of
QCM in sensing fields include high sensitivity, high stability, fast response and low cost. In addition,
it provides label-free detection capability for bio-sensing applications. Firstly, basic QCMs design
and characterization are described. Next, QCM biosensors based on modification of quartz substrate structure and their applications are digested. Nanoparticles and their utilizationin analysis
are then illustrated. These include Nanoparticles in bio applications that cover Nanoparticles in
Quartz Crystal Microbalance biosensors.

Keywords
Nanoparticles, Quartz Crystal Microbalance, QCM, Biosensors, Review

1. Introduction
Nanoparticle analysis is a rapidly growing research area with applications in a variety of fields including energy,
nanocomposite materials, the environment and healthcare. Nanoparticles are being incorporated into materials
such as solar panels, nanomachines, and a variety of thin films and coatings to generate more desirable properties. Between the different applications, the use of NPs for biosensing is showing an increased interest for several areas such as clinical analysis [1] [2], environmental monitoring [3]-[5] as well as safety and security. NPs
involvements in DNA, protein and even cell sensing systems have recently been the hottest topics in nanobio*

Corresponding author.

How to cite this paper: Heydari, S. and Haghayegh, G.H. (2014) Application of Nanoparticles in Quartz Crystal Microbalance
Biosensors. Journal of Sensor Technology, 4, 81-100. http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/jst.2014.42009

S. Heydari, G. H. Haghayegh

technology. Although their use and benefits are unquestioned, there are still potential risks in their widespread
use to health and the environment. Therefore, there is a need for new techniques for characterizing nanoparticles
including their interactions with surfaces, each other and their stability in the environment. Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) is an analytical technique that provides in-situ analysis of interactions taking place at surfaces.
The main advantages of QCM in sensing fields include high sensitivity, high stability, fast response and low cost.
In addition, it provides label-free detection capability for bio-sensing applications. Being labeled free, it dispenses with the time and cost demanding labeling step, and also eliminates any possible interference of the true
binding process due to the presence of the labels. Given the special importance of bio analysis, we intend in this
review to overview some of the major advances and milestones in the field of Quartz Crystal Microbalance biosensors based on NPs underlying the different approaches reported so far. Since the nanoparticles and biomolecules typically meet at the same nanometer length scale, this interdisciplinary approach will contribute to the establishment of a novel field, descriptively termed immunosensing nanotechnology or nanoimmunosensing. NP
based immunosensing systems are proving to assist in the development of new and versatile protein detection
methods.
In this report, firstly, basic QCMs design and characterization are described. Next, QCM biosensors based on
modification of quartz substrate structure and their applications are discussed. Nanoparticles and their applications in analysis are then illustrated. These include nanoparticles in bio applications that cover nanoparticles in
Quartz Crystal Microbalance biosensors.

2. Quartz Crystal Microbalance

Piezoelectricity is defined as electric polarization produced by mechanical strain in certain crystals, the polarization being proportional to the strain [6]. The Curies first observed piezoelectricity in 1880 as a potential difference generated across two surfaces of a quartz crystal under strain [7]. The converse piezoelectric effect, the deformation of apiezoelectric material by an applied electric field, was predicted by Lippman [8]. Thus, when a
thin wafer from a piezoelectric crystal such as quartz is placed in an alternating electric field of the right frequency it will oscillate in a mechanically resonant mode of the wafer. The resonance frequency depends upon
the angles with respect to the opticalaxis at which the wafer was cut from a single crystal and inversely on the
crystal thickness. Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) devices derive from piezoelectric quartz crystal resonators that resonate electromechanically in a thickness-shear mode (TSM) (Figure 1, Figure 2). Owing to piezoelectric effects, the resonant properties of crystal can be influenced by external physical loading, which may be
classified into two main types, gravimetric and viscoelastic loading. In the first case, gravimetric force due to
mass rigidly deposited on the crystal surface is balanced by a force originating from the shear gradient inside the
crystal, leading to the resonance frequency shift (fg), which is governed by Sauerbreys equation [10] [11]:
f g =

=
f0

M
q q A

2 f 02

=
2tq

q )

2tq

where f0 is the fundamental resonance frequency, M is the mass deposited on QCM surface, A is the active
electrode area, v is the acoustic wave velocity, q is the density of crystal (2.648 gcm3 for quartz), q is the
shear modulus of the cut face (2.947 1011 gcm1s2 for AT-cut quartz) and tq is the crystal thickness. With this
loading effect, QCM has been routinely used for thickness monitoring in physical vapor deposition processes.
For the viscoelastic loading, resonance frequency is changed due to acoustic-fluid damping interaction when
QCM operates in viscoelastic medium such as liquid [12]. Unlike gravimetric loading, there are large changes of
dissipation factor and resonant resistance due to energy losses of shear wave that travels through non-rigidly
adsorbed layers [13]-[16]. The viscoselastic resonance frequency shift (fv), dissipation factor change (D) and
resonant resistance change (R) are given by:
f =
f 03 2

82

L L

q q

S. Heydari, G. H. Haghayegh

Figure 1. Schematic diagram of Quartz Crystal Microbalance

instrumentation. (Crystal is held between two o-rings) Reproduced with permission from Ref. [7], Copyright 2008 Elsevier.

Figure 2. Crystals used in a QCM. Reproduced with permission

from Ref. [9], Copyright 2004 Elsevier.

D =
2 f 01 2

L L

q q

( 2 L L f0 )
R =
k2

12

where L, L and k are viscosity, density and electromechanical coupling factor of the liquid medium, respectively. Both dissipation factor and resonant resistance can be directly measured experimentally. The combined
measurements of frequency shift and changes in the dissipation factor and resonant resistance have been termed,
QCM-D and QCM-R, respectively [17]. With the combined mass and viscosity-density effects, QCM can be applied for bio/chemical sensing by coating with a chemically or biologically sensitive film to sense very small
amount of adsorbed gases such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) [18] [19] and environmental pollutants
[20]-[22] and liquid phase biochemicals.
A quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) measures a mass per unit area by measuring the change in frequency of
a quartz crystal resonator. The resonance is disturbed by the addition or removal of a small mass due to oxide
growth/decay or film deposition at the surface of the acoustic resonator. The QCM can be used under vacuum,
in gas phase (gas sensor, first use described by King) [23] and more recently in liquid environments. It is useful for monitoring the rate of deposition in thin film deposition systems under vacuum. In liquid, it is highly effective at determining the affinity of molecules (proteins, in particular) to surfaces functionalized with 3 to investigate interactions between biomolecules [24]-[28].
There has been a rapid increase in the number of publications related to QCM sensing applications during the
last few decades (Figure 3). QCMs have been used for multifarious applications in various disciplines of
science and technology for the detection of metals in vacuum, vapors, chemical analytes, environmental pollu-

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Figure 3. A summary of the number of papers (for specific analytes by class)

referencing QCM in the title, Keywords or Abstract [29]. Reproduced with
permission from Ref. [29], Copyright 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

tants, biomolecules, disease biomarkers, cells, and pathogens. They are also employed for deposition rate monitoring, electrochemical deposition, corrosion studies, detection in gas chromatography, and controlling thickness
and composition of sputtered materials. Presently, there are several companies that are dealing with QCM-based
systems.QCM provides one of the most promising sensor technology based on its low cost, rapid response, portability, nonhazardous label-free real-time procedure, and high sensitivity, which is ideal for the sensitive online
detection of analytes and holds a great promise for the next-generation sensors.

3. QCM as a Biosensor
Nowadays the applications of sensors are a very promising research field since they find application in many
different areas [30]-[35]. Biosensors are an increasingly important technology in the detection of compounds
ranging from pesticides to biological weapons. Typically, biosensors consist of a biological macromolecule that
is immobilized on the surface of a signal transducer, as shown in Figure 4. As the macromolecule binds specifically to the ligand being detected, the signal transducer can measure a physical change due to the binding event.
The transducer usually detects a change in resistance, pH, heat, light, or mass and then converts that data to an
electrical signal to be collected and processed. One promising type of detector is the Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM). The QCM is a piezoelectric mass-sensing device. A QCM device works by sending an electrical
signal through a gold-plated quartz crystal, which causes a vibration at some resonant frequency. The QCM then
measures the frequency of oscillation in the crystal. When used as a biosensor, the QCM can detect changes in
frequency of the crystal due to changes in mass on the surface of the crystal.
The sensitivity and specificity of QCM-based biosensors is dependent on the immobilization of recognitionlayer. For example various strategies have been employed for the immobilization of antibodies on the crystal
surface. Passive adsorption of antibodies has been the most widely used method. However, it leads to random
immobilization of antibodies on the surface, which may not be in functionally active orientation. The crystallizable fragment (Fc)-binding proteins such as protein A, protein G and protein A/G are employed for oriented
immobilization of antibodies on the gold-coated QCM surface such that their antigen binding sites (Fab region)
are completely free for binding antigens. Another strategy employs the initial generation of amino groups on the
QCM surface by treatment with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane followed by the activation of amine-functionalized
surface with glutaraldehyde to generate aldehyde groups, which bind to the antibody through its amino groups.

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Figure 4. Schematic for generic biosensor [36].

The interactions between thiols and gold are very strong and have also been exploited for antibody binding by
employing self-assembled layers of thiols and sulphides. The avidin-biotin interactions have also been employed,
where the avidin/streptavid in-coated QCM-gold-surface is bound to the biotinylated antibody. Other approaches
based on the use of polyelectrolytes, polymers, and Langmuir-Blodgett films have also been used.
QCM biosensors have been employed in the label-free detection of an incredibly broad range of analytes;
from interfacial chemistries and lipid membranes to small molecules and whole cells [37]. They provide a unique method for observing in situ events involving soft matter, in which changes in contact mechanics, interfacial dynamics, surface roughness, viscoelasticity, density and mass can be monitored in real time [38]-[44]. This
level of information content goes beyond that produced by many more widely adopted optical techniques that
are used to analyse molecular changes occurring in biochemical processes. Acoustic sensor technology is thus
highly interdisciplinary and has encompassed advances and improvements from electrical engineers to cell biologists. Braunhut et al. adapted the Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) biosensor technique to study responses of human mammary epithelial tumor cells to taxanes [45]. Taxanes are used for the treatment of many
human cancers, as first- and second-line chemotherapeutics.
The ultimate goal in any biosensor development project is its use for actual sample detection. Recently, there
has been an interest in biosensors with aptamers as bio-recognition elements, but reported examples all deal with
standards, not human serum. In comparison to antibodies, aptamer receptors have a number of advantages. The
main advantage is the avoidance of the use of animals for their production. Moreover, the aptamer select ion
process can be manipulated to obtain aptamers that bind to a specific region of the target and with specific binding properties under different binding conditions [46]-[50]. In order to verify the differences of aptamer-based
biosensor and antibody-based biosensor in clinical detection, Yao et al. carried out a comparison of the performance of aptamer-based and antibody-based Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) biosensors for the detection
of immunoglobulin E (IgE) in human serum [51]. Wu et al. developed a DNA piezoelectric biosensing method
for real-time detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in a circulating-flow system [52]. The QCM system was also applied in the detection of PCR-amplified DNA from real samples of E. coli O157:H7. The resultant H% of
the PCR-amplified double-strand DNA was comparable to that of the synthetic target T-104AS, a single-strand
DNA. The piezoelectric biosensing system has potential for further applications. This approach lays the groundwork for incorporating the method into an integrated system for rapid PCR-based DNA analysis.

4. Nanoparticles
One of the most important functions of nanoparticles is catalysis, especially with noble metal nanoparticles,
which have high catalytic activity for many chemical reactions. Because nanomaterials also have good biocompatibility, they are used to immobilize biomolecules for the fabrication of biosensors. Sensitivity and other
attributes of biosensors can be improved by using nanomaterials in their construction. Nanomaterials, or matrices
with at least one of their dimensions ranging in scale from 1 to 100 nm, display unique physical and chemical

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features because of effects such as the quantum size effect, mini size effect, surface effect and macro-quantum
tunnel effect.

4.1. Nanoparticles in Bio Applications

Nanoparticles have numerous possible applications in biosensors. For example, functional nanoparticles (electronic, optical and magnetic) bound to biological molecules (e.g. peptides, proteins, nucleic acids) have been
developed for use in biosensors to detect and amplify various signals. Some of the nanoparticle-based sensors
include the acoustic wave biosensors, optical biosensors, magnetic and electrochemical biosensors. The structure
of IgG, the most used antibody in immunosensig assays, has been determined by X-ray crystallography (Figure 5(a),
upper part) which shows a Y-shape form consisting of three equal-sized portions, loosely connected by a flexible tether [53]. The antibodies are constituted by two heavy and two light polypeptide chains linked between
themas shown in Figure 5(a) (lower part). The C regions determine the isotype of the antibody whereas the variable regions of one heavy and one light chain constitute an Antigen Binding Site (ABS). The digestion of antibody with papain (Figure 5(b) upper part) and pepsin (Figure 5(b) lower part) proteases produces several
smaller fragments that may be used instead of the original antibody for immunosensing applications. Immunoassays are based on the interaction between the antibody and the antigen, in particular between the ABS and
the epitope. In fact this interaction gives high specificity and sensitivity to the immunoassay. In order to functionalize the Ig, the connection of labels through three main groups: NH2, COOH and SH have been performed. Figure 5(c) (upper part) shows two examples of conjugation of mono-sulfo-NHS-AuNPs with an antibody through the amino group. A conjugation of monomaleimido Au NPs (Figure 5(c), lower part) with an antibody, through the SH group, is also shown. The use of the thiol group for the functionalization is a good way
to control the direction of the bond between the label and the antibody, and prevent the involvement of the
ABS. Figure 5(d) is an example of conjugation through the carboxyl group reported by Ahirwal et al. [54].
They connected the carboxi-term of the antibody with an AuNP by glutathione used as aspacer. The C-term region is a good point to attach the label, since it s far from the ABS and should allow the molecule interaction
with the antigen. The AuNP modification with protein can even be observed by TEM (Figure 5(e)) [55].
Nanoparticles in Quartz Crystal Microbalance Biosensors
Quartz crystal microbalances have emerged in the last few years as versatile biosensors demonstrating remarkable achievements such as high sensitivity and label free detection [56]-[58]. In the quartz crystal microbalance,
the bioreaction generates a change in the mass, reordering the charges in the surface of the piezoelectric material
and giving rise to a change in the resonant frequency of the microbalance. The use of NP labels in sandwich assays can increase both the surface stress and the mass of the immune complex, allowing for the increase in sensitivity of these electromechanical assays. This was the case in work reported for the detection of human IgG [59]
and aflatoxin B1 [60] at clinical relevant levels using AuNPs as amplification agents in adynamic mode quartz
crystal microbalance biosensor.
Quartz crystal microbalance biosensors were developed to greatly improve the sensitivity and limits of detection [61]. In the mass-amplified quartz crystal microbalance assay variant of this technology, antibody modified
sol particles indirectly bind to an electrode surface by complexing to an analyte that has been itself captured by
an antibody immobilized on the electrode surface. The large mass of the bound sol particles greatly affects the
vibrational frequency of the quartz crystal and this is used as the basis for detection. The assay can be carried out
in the competitive mode. The preferred diameter of sol particles is in the range of 5 - 100 nm. Other high-density
particles (e.g. Au, Pt, CdS, TiO2, polymers) may be also suitable [62] [63].
Recently Chu et al. developed a label-free gliadinimmuno sensor by applying 25 nm gold nanoparticles (AuNPs)
to the surface of a bare QCM electrode [64]. Also a rapid and sensitive Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM)
biosensor combined with gold nanoparticle amplification for diagnosis Mycobacterium tuberculosis was developed by Kaewphinit et al. [65]. The label free QCM was successfully developed with high sensitivity, specificity,
low cost and convenience, this technique may prove to be a powerful tool for an early diagnosis of M. tuberculosis.
DNA-conjugated nanoparticles can be used to enhance the signal produced upon hybridization to a surface-bound single-stranded template [66]-[73]. They can also be used to increase the surface area available
to immobilize the DNA template on a sensor [74]-[76]. Detection sensitivity is generally in the region of
1015 - 1016 M, with one report of zeptomolar (1021 M) quantities of specific nucleic acid [77]. Ma et al. [78]

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S. Heydari, G. H. Haghayegh

Figure 5. (a) X-ray crystallographic structure of an IgG antibody (upper part); A schematic representation of IgG and a
simplified scheme of the antibodys structure (lower part); (b) The papain (upper part) and the the pepsin (lower part)
cleavages; (c) Functionalization of a whole IgG or a Fab by a Mono-Sulfo-NHS-AuNP viafree amino groups (upper part);
monomaleimidoAuNP binds the S atom after the reduction of the disulfide bond starting from the whole IgG (lower part, left)
or from F(ab)2 (lower part, right) [53]; (d) An activated by EDC AuNP coated with gluthatione, as spacer arm, reacts with
an IgG, also activated by EDC [54]; (e) TEM images ofAuNPs (left part) and AuNPs conjugated with IgG (right part). Image
shows a thin white layer, called halo effect, surrounding the surface of the AuNPs indicatingcoating with protein. Reproduced with permission from Ref. [55], Copyright 2010 Elsevier.

used a mixture of HAuCl4 and NH2OH to enlarge the gold particles. However, it has been shown that 20 nm is
the optimal particle size for maximally increasing the sensitivity as the larger particles suffer from weaker binding to the surface and are therefore lost on exposure to flow [71]. A quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) DNA
sensor, based on the nanoparticle amplification method, was developed for detection of Escherichia coli
O157:H7 [79]. A thiolated single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) probe specific to E. coli O157: H7 was immobilized
onto the QCM sensor surface through self-assembly (Figure 6). The hybridization was induced by exposing the
ssDNA probe to the complementary target DNA, and resulted in the mass change and therefore frequency

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S. Heydari, G. H. Haghayegh

Figure 6. Llustration of the sensor fabrication and detection procedure reproduced with permission from Ref.
[79], Copyright 2006 Elsevier.

change of the QCM.

The enhancement of a single strain DNA probe linked to the sensor surface is of crucial importance in DNA
molecule recognition. By means of nanogold modification of the sensor surface in addition to the nanogold amplifier, DNA detection sensitivity higher than 1016 mol/L was obtained in a Quartz Crystal microbalance (QCM)
system, much higher than the ordinary QCM sensor without surface modification by nanogold (Figure 7) [63].
Recently a DNA probe functionalized quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) biosensor was developed to detect
B. anthracis based on the recognition of its specific DNA sequences, i.e., the 168 bp fragment of the Ba813 gene
in chromosomes and the 340 bp fragment of the paggene in plasmid pXO1 [80]. Willner et al. described three
different methods for the amplified detection of a single-base mismatch in DNA using microgravimetric quartzcrystal-microbalance as transduction means (Figure 8) [81]. All methods involve the primary incorporation of a
biotinylated base complementary to the mutation site in the analyzed double-stranded primer/DNA assembly.
The double-stranded assembly is formed between 25 complementary bases of the probe DNA assembled on the
Au-quartz crystal and the target DNA. One method of amplification includes the association of avidin- and biotin-labeled liposomes to the sensing interface. The second method of amplified detection of the base mismatch
includes the association of an Au-nanoparticle-avidin conjugate to the sensing interface, and the secondary
Au-nanoparticle-catalyzed deposition of gold on the particles. The third amplification route includes the binding
of the avidin-alkaline phosphatase biocatalytic conjugate to the double-stranded surface followed by the oxidative hydrolysis of 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl phosphate to the insoluble product indigo derivative that precipitates on the transducer. Comparison of the three amplification routes reveals that the catalytic deposition of gold
on the Au-nanoparticle/avidin conjugate is the most sensitive method, and the single-base mismatch in the analyzed DNA is detected with a sensitivity that corresponds to 3 1016 M.
A novel amplification route for DNA detection based on the deposition of gold on a 10 nm Au-colloid/avidin
conjugate label acting as a seeding catalyst is described by Weizmann et al. (Figure 9) [66]. Microgravimetric
quartz-crystal-microbalance measurements are employed to transduce the catalyzed deposition of gold on the
piezoelectric crystals. Three different DNA detection schemes are described: 1) analysis of a 27-base nucleic
acid fragment; 2) analysis of the entire M13f DNA (7229 bases); and 3) detection of a single-base mismatch in a
DNA. Ultrasensitive detection of DNA is accomplished by the catalyzed deposition of gold, detection limit 1
1015 M.
A rapid and sensitive detection method for the early diagnosis of infectious dengue virus (DENV) urgently
needs to be developed by Chen et al. [82]. In this study, a circulating-flow Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM)
biosensing method combining oligonucleotide-functionalized gold nanoparticles (i.e. AuNP probes) used to
detect DENV has been established. The sensitivity and specificity of the present DNA-QCM method with nanoparticle technology showed it to be comparable to the fluorescent real-time PCR methods. Moreover, the method described herein was shown to not require expensive equipment, was label-free and highly sensitive. Scodeller et al. reported a fully integrated core-shell nanoparticle system responsive to glucose [83]. The system is
comprised of self-assembled glucose oxidase and an osmium molecular wire on core-shell Au nanoparticles.

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Figure 7. Schematic illustration of the sensing process of the amplifying system based on Au
nanoparticle-covered QCM surface. Reproduced with permission from Ref. [63], Copyright
2004 Elsevier.

Figure 8. Amplified detection paths of a single-base mismatch in nucleic acids: (a) using
avidin and biotin-labeled liposomes; (b) Using an avidin-Au-nanoparticle conjugate and the
catalyzed deposition of gold; (c) Using an avidin-alkaline phosphatase bioconjugate and the
biocatalyzed precipitation of the insoluble product 4 Reproduced with permission from Ref.
[81], Copyright 2002 Elsevier.

In an interesting work Krozer et al., investigated a new and generic approach for integration of molecularly
imprinted nanoparticles into sensing systems [84]. Nanoparticles can be easily immobilized on flat transducer
surfaces through a supporting polymer film using spin-coating, and the thickness of the nanoparticle coating can
be easily controlled by changing the nanoparticle/polymer ratio and the solid content of the nanoparticle suspension. Kong et al. was developed a molecularly imprinted Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) sensor for ractopamine (RAC) detection by electrodepositing a poly-o-aminothiophenol membrane on an Au electrode surface
modified by self-assembled Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) [85].
Recently a simple and sensitive sensor method for cancer biomarkers [prostate specific antigen (PSA) and
PSA-alpha 1 antichymotrypsin (ACT) complex] analysis was developed, to be applied directly with human serum (75%) by using antibody modified quartz crystal microbalance sensor and nanoparticles amplification sys-

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Figure 9. (A) Amplified detection of DNA by: (a) association of an Au-avidin conjugate and catalytic deposition of Au; (b)
polymerase-induced replication of DNA followed by the electroless deposition of gold on an Au-avidin conjugate linked to
the double-stranded assembly. (B) Amplified detection of a singlebase mismatch in DNA by the catalytic deposition of Au
on an Au-avidin conjugate linked to the labeled double-stranded assembly. Reproduced with permission from Ref. [66],
Copyright 2001 Royal Society of Chemistry.

tem [86]. A QCM sensor chip consisting of two sensing array enabling the measurement of an active and control
binding events simultaneously on the sensor surface was used in this work. With the achieved detection limit in
serum samples, the developed QCM assay show a promising technology for cancer biomarker analysis in patient
samples.
Ma et al. reported a new amplification route for human lung carcinoma cell detection based on the detection
of gold deposition on an Au-antibody conjugate label acting as a seeding catalyst [87]. Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) was employed to measure the catalyzed deposition of gold on the piezoelectric crystals. The
gold-coated quartz crystal was modified by polystyrene films, which provided a substrate for antibody immobilization by physical adsorption (Figure 10). The polystyrene films significantly improve the surface smoothness
of the electrode. Compared to the conventional Enzymelinked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), the method described herein is a less time consuming procedure and gives comparable detection sensitivity of human lung
carcinoma cells, ca. 100 cells mL1. This will be of great significance in the diagnosis of this disease.
A highly sensitive quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) biosensor for protein

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Figure 10. The gold-coated quartz crystal was modified by

polystyrene filmsReproduced with permission from Ref. [87],
Copyright 2002 Royal Society of Chemistry.

was developed using aptamer-functionalized gold nanoparticles (Apt-GNPs) for amplification [88]. Human
-thrombin, an important physiological protease found in blood, was chosen as the target protein. Captured by
immobilized aptamers, thrombin was determined on-line using Apt-GNPs to enhance both frequency and dissipation signals. The fabricated sandwich of aptamer/thrombin/Apt-GNPs on chip surface was confirmed by
atomic force microscopy (AFM). Compared to direct assay, the detection limit for thrombin was down to 0.1
nM, yielding about 2 orders of magnitude improvement in sensitivity. For the first time, the dual-signal enhancement of Apt-GNPs on QCM-D sensing was demonstrated, and such design could provide a promising detection strategy for proteins with two binding sites. Also an aptamer-based quartz crystal microbalance (QCM)
biosensor was developed for the selective and sensitive detection of leukemia cells [89]. In this strategy, aminophenylboronic acid-modified gold nanoparticles (APBA-AuNPs) which could bind to cell membrane were used
for the labeling of cells followed by silver enhancement, through which significant signal amplification was
achieved.
In an interesting work Kaufman et al., described the adsorption characteristics of three proteins [bovine serum
albumin (BSA), myoglobin (Mb), and cytochrome c (CytC)] onto self-assembled monolayers of mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA) on both gold nanoparticles (AuNP) and gold surfaces (Au) [90]. The combination of quartz
crystal microbalance measurements with dissipation (QCM-D) and pH titrations of the -potential provide information on layer structure, surface coverage, and potential. A new quartz crystal microbalance immunoassay
method based on a novel transparent immunoaffinity reactor was developed for clinical immunoassay by Tang
et al. [91]. To construct such an affinity reactor, resonators with a frequency of 10 MHz were fabricated by affinity binding of functionalized gold nanoparticles (nanogold) to quartz crystal with immobilized specific ligand
for the label-free analysis of the affinity reaction between a ligand and its receptor. [Recombinant human tumor
markers, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was chosen as a model ligand.]. Compared with the conventional
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the proposed immunoassay system was simple and rapid without multiple
labeling and separation steps. Importantly, the proposed immunoassay system could be further developed for the
immobilization of other antigens or biocompounds.
Su et al. fabricated novel low-humidity sensors by the in situ photopolymerization of polypyrrole/Ag/TiO2
nanoparticles (PPy/Ag/TiO2 NPs) composite thin films on a quartz-crystal microbalance (QCM) [92]. The sensitivity increased with the doping amount of TiO2 NPs. Additionally, based on the dynamic analysis of adsorption,
the association constants of water vapor molecules with PPy/Ag and PPy/Ag/50 wt% TiO2 NPs composite thin
films were estimated to be 81.6 and 227.9 M1, respectively, explaining the effect of adding 50 wt% TiO2 NPs to
PPy/Ag; the sensitivity to low humidity increased as the association constant increased. Also a sensitive method
for ammonia gas analysis was developed with conducting polymer poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT)
nanoparticles by reverse micelle method, which could be well dispersed in water or alcoholic solvent with ultrasonic treatment [93]. Compare to electrical conductivity of conventional PEDOT particles (ca. 0.5 S/cm), the
as-prepared palletized nanoparticles have higher conductivity (ca. 10.2 S/cm) and the conductivity varies with
the doped and de-doped states of PEDOT. As for sensing property, it has been found that QCM device coated
with nanoparticles shows faster response and recovery to 20 ppm ammonia gas (ca. 50 s) than that of conventional PEDOT particles (Figure 11). The PEDOT nanoparticle covered device exhibits almost linear relation to

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lower NH3 gas concentration and shows a saturate tendency of gas sensitivity with the increase of gas concentration over 500 ppm.
Real-time and sensitive detection of Salmonella typhimurium using an automated quartz crystal microbalance
(QCM) instrument with gold nanoparticles amplification was described by Salam et al. [94]. Also Guo et al. described a piezoelectric immunosensor for specific capture and enrichment of viable pathogens by quartz crystal
microbalance sensor, followed by detection with antibody-functionalized gold nanoparticles [95]. The unique
advantages of the system developed offer great potential in the microbial analysis of food samples in routine settings.
One of the applications of QCM technique is study nanoparticle self-assembly processes, nanocomposite materials and track nanoparticle interactions in the environment. Self-assembly is a process where similar particles
spontaneously bind to one another to form new materials, coatings or films with a variety of desirable properties
(Figure 12). These type of mass sensitive technique is highly useful to study monolayer formation, enzyme
immobilization, selective sensing of small organic or large biomolecules. For example, recently Crooks and coworkers have shown that hyperbranch polymer monolayers and poly (amidoamine) dendrimer monolayers can
interact with small organic molecules [97] [98]. Similarly Kepley and coworkers have used copper (II) ions
bound on SAM to selectively and reversibly detected organophosphonate [99]. Host-guest interactions can be
monitored by highly ordered cavitated monolayers as shown using calyx [4] resorcinarene [100]. These cavited
monolayers have a high affinity towards perchloroethylene [100]. The QCM technology enables one to measure
the kinetics of nanoparticle self-assembly processes; measure the resulting thickness, mass and structural properties of the self-assembled film; and compare the self-assembly process under different conditions such as
temperature, solvent type or concentration, flow or static environment and particle type.
Modifying polymer films with nanoparticles to form nanocomposite materials has become a useful method to
modulate the structural properties and other characteristics of thin films to have more desirable properties and
better stability (Figure 13). The QCM-D technology can be used to study changes in film thickness and rigidity
due to the additional of nanoparticles. Properties such as thickness, viscosity, storage and loss modulus of nanocomposite materials can be measured, in real time, by QCM. There is concern that nanoparticles stable in the
environment could cause significant health issues. The QCM technology can also be used to track nanoparticle
stability and interactions under environmental conditions with a variety of real-life surfaces such as glass, metals
and natural organic matter (Figure 14). The technique can track the kinetics, extent and stability of nanoparticle
deposition onto different surfaces and in different environmental conditions.
Chen et al. described the fabrication of gold nanoparticle surface thin films by taking advantage of the strong
complexation interactions between transition metal ions and pyridine functional groups (Figure 15) [101]. The
thickness (layers) of the particle thin films was readily controlled by the repetition of the alternate dipping cycles,
as monitored by Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM).

Figure 11. Typical response of PEDOT particles to NH3 gas

(20 ppm) (a) nanoparticles and (b) conventional particles reproduced with permission from Ref. [93], Copyright 2007 Elsevier.

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Figure 12. Self assembly processes [96].

Figure 13. Nanocomposite materials analysis [96].

Figure 14. Nanoparticle interactions in the environment [96].

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Figure 15. Procedure for nanoparticle assembling by the chelating interactions between divalent (transition) metal ions and
pyridine moieties [101] reproduced with permission from Ref.
[101], Copyright 2002 American Chemical Society.

Shen et al. investigated a means of producing Au nanoparticle network-type thin films that are derived by a
one-step mixed-assembly cross-linking route, can avoid nonspecific interactions, and provide maximum binding
to a specific target (Figure16) [102].
Liu and Hu showed interaction between myoglobin and hyaluronic acid in their layer-by-layer assembly by
quartz crystal microbalance and cyclic voltammetry studies [103]. Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) and CV
were used to confirm the film growth and characterize the films. Also the deposition of silica nanoparticles on
alumina coated surfaces in aqueous electrolytes was studied by optical reflectometry (OR) and a quartz crystal
microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) [104].

5. Conclusion
Quartz crystal microbalances have emerged in the last few years as versatile biosensors demonstrating remarkable achievements such as high sensitivity and label free detection. In the quartz crystal microbalance, the bioreaction generates a change in the mass, reordering the charges in the surface of the piezoelectric material and

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Figure 16. Schematic of the mixed-assembly cross-linking route for the preparation of Au
nanoparticle network-type thin film. Reproduced with permission from Ref. [102], Copyright
2007 Elsevier.

giving rise to a change in the resonant frequency of the microbalance. Its detection range and sensitivity are not
quite as good as some other label-free sensor technologies (e.g. surface plasmon resonance). The use of NP labels in sandwich assays can increase both the surface stress and the mass of the immune complex, allowing the
increase in sensitivity of these electromechanical assays. This progress will require an increased understanding
of both theoretical and experimental aspects of the relation among changes in frequency, energy dissipation, and
NPs. These advancements will have a tremendous impact on the versatility and effectiveness of the QCM in future applications. In this review, application of nanoparticles in Quartz Crystal Microbalance biosensors has
been extensively reviewed. The theoretical/experimental analysis, design and applications of quartz crystal microbalance biosensors combined with nanoparticles amplification have been discussed. These biosensors present
as a detection option that can be effectively employed to specific pathogen related requirements. The prospects
are low detection limit, less time consuming, economical, biocompatible, precise and accurate like features. New
nanoparticles need to be explored for use in these biosensors. Therefore, QCM is a relatively new and promising
research area worthy for further exploration.

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