Towards integrated and sensitive surface plasmon resonance biosensors: a review of recent progress.

This review presents an overview of 20 years of worldwide development in the field of biosensors based on special types of surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices that permit the highly sensitive detection of biorelevant molecules in liquid media (such as water or aqueous buffer solutions). 1987 saw the first approaches, which used either horizontally polarized shear waves (HPSW) in a delay line configuration on lithium tantalate (LiTaO3) substrates or SAW resonator structures on quartz or LiTaO3 with periodic mass gratings. The latter are termed “surface transverse waves” (STW), and they have comparatively low attenuation values when operated in liquids. Later Love wave devices were developed, which used a film resonance effect to significantly reduce attenuation. All of these sensor approaches were accompanied by the development of appropriate sensing films. First attempts used simple layers of adsorbed antibodies. Later approaches used various types of covalently bound layers, for example those utilizing intermediate hydrogel layers. Recent approaches involve SAW biosensor devices inserted into compact systems with integrated fluidics for sample handling. To achieve this, the SAW biosensors can be embedded into micromachined polymer housings. Combining these two features will extend the system to create versatile biosensor arrays for generic lab use or for diagnostic purposes.

Surface acoustic wave biosensors: a review

In the year 2003 there was a 17% increase in the number of publications citing work performed using optical biosensor technology compared with the previous year. We collated the 962 total papers for 2003, identified the geographical regions where the work was performed, highlighted the instrument types on which it was carried out, and segregated the papers by biological system. In this overview, we spotlight 13 papers that should be on everyone's 'must read' list for 2003 and provide examples of how to identify and interpret high-quality biosensor data. Although we still find that the literature is replete with poorly performed experiments, over-interpreted results and a general lack of understanding of data analysis, we are optimistic that these shortcomings will be addressed as biosensor technology continues to mature.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/jmr.753

Survey of the year 2003 commercial optical biosensor literature

The widespread exploitation of biosensors in the analysis of molecular recognition has its origins in the mid-1990s following the release of commercial systems based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR). More recently, platforms based on piezoelectric acoustic sensors (principally 'bulk acoustic wave' (BAW), 'thickness shear mode' (TSM) sensors or 'quartz crystal microbalances' (QCM)), have been released that are driving the publication of a large number of papers analysing binding specificities, affinities, kinetics and conformational changes associated with a molecular recognition event. This article highlights salient theoretical and practical aspects of the technologies that underpin acoustic analysis, then reviews exemplary papers in key application areas involving small molecular weight ligands, carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids, viruses, bacteria, cells and lipidic and polymeric interfaces. Key differentiators between optical and acoustic sensing modalities are also reviewed.

A survey of the 2001 to 2005 quartz crystal microbalance biosensor literature: applications of acoustic physics to the analysis of biomolecular interactions.

Towards On-site Pathogen Detection Using Antibody-based Sensors

Gas phase activity of anti-FITC antibodies immobilized on a surface acoustic wave resonator device.

Weaponized spores of a pathogenic bacterium such as Bacillus anthracis are a new critical threat to mankind. The occurrences in New York and south Florida in 2001 showed the potential capability of the spores to be used for mass destruction. Due to their stealthiness during the infection and resistance to harsh environment, an early and prompt detection of the spores before they endanger the population is a significant issue. In this paper, we present a method of instant identification of Bacillus subtilis (nonpathogenic simulant for Bacillus anthracis) spores by constructing a dual quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) immunosensing system. A set of 10-MHz AT-cut QCMs operating in thickness shear mode are employed in an enclosed flowcell. Specificity is maintained through the use of an immuno-sensing layer consisting of monoclonal antibodies raised against spores of a single Bacillus species. The fidelity of sensing parameters is ensured by the presence of a reference device coated with an antibody that is not specific for the target antigen. Associating the QCM response signature with the specific binding of a particular species of Bacillus spore to an antibody has implications for future identification of pathogenic substances.

Rapid detection of bacterial spores using a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) immunoassay

Acoustic wave devices coated with a biolayer represent one biosensor approach for the detection of medically relevant biomolecules. In a typical application, the acoustic wave device is connected in an oscillator circuit, and the frequency shift /spl Delta/f resulting from a biomolecular event is recorded. In this paper, we discuss our recent work in this field, which has included the use of Rayleigh wave surface acoustic wave devices for vapor phase detection as well as quartz crystal microbalance devices for liquid phase measurements. For all of the results reported herein the biofilm on the surface of the acoustic wave device consists of a layer of antibodies raised against a specific target molecule or antigen. We present our results for the vapor phase detection of small molecules such as uranine and cocaine as well as liquid phase detection of small and large molecules. The data we present from these various experiments is the signature associated with the biomolecular recognition events; that is, we record and present /spl Delta/f(t). Finally, we present the recent results of our time-dependent perturbation theory work, which gives a potential method for resolving the acoustic wave biosensor signature into information relating to molecular structure changes during a molecular recognition event.

Time-dependent signatures of acoustic wave biosensors

Vapor sensors, aka electronic noses, are becoming an increasingly popular analytical tool for detection and identification of small molecules in the gas phase. In this paper, we present the results of a series of experiments demonstrating real-time vapor phase detection of cocaine molecules. A distinctive response or signature was observed under laboratory conditions in which the cocaine vapors were presented using an INEL vapor generator and under “field” conditions facilitated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) Crime Lab. For these experiments, the sensor component was a two-port resonator on ST-X quartz with a center frequency of ∼250 MHz. On this cut of quartz, a temperature-compensated surface acoustic wave is generated via an interdigital transducer. Antibenzoylecgonine (anti-BZE) antibodies are attached to the electrodes on the device surface via a protein-A cross linker. We observed a large transient frequency shift accompanied by baseline shift with the anti-BZE coated sensor. After rep...

D.D. Stubbs

Papers

Gas phase activity of anti-FITC antibodies immobilized on a surface acoustic wave resonator device.

Rapid detection of bacterial spores using a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) immunoassay

Time-dependent signatures of acoustic wave biosensors

Investigation of cocaine plumes using surface acoustic wave immunoassay sensors.

Real-time detection of mesothelin in pancreatic cancer cell line supernatant using an acoustic wave immunosensor