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In this chapter we focus on the application of the piezoelectric-based quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) technique to create and study thin polymeric films. The electrochemical variant of the quartz crystal microbalance technique (EQCM) allows one to study changes in the interfacial mass and physical properties associated with electron transfer processes occurring at the electrode surface, such as those accompanying electropolymerization of thin films. We have applied EQCM to study and compare the formation and properties of polymeric thin films formed from amphiphilic and non-amphiphilic phenolic and tyrosine monomers and comonomer systems. Also, we show the applicability of using EQCM to study polymeric films formed as a result of enzymatic polymerization processes, to create enzyme-entrapped polymer electrodes, and to create biosensors. Lastly, we briefly discuss QCM application to studies of cell properties such as adhesion and to create cell QCM biosensors that have interesting applications in the area of drug discovery.

In this chapter we focus on the application of the piezoelectric-based quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) technique to create and study thin polymeric films. The electrochemical variant of the quartz crystal microbalance technique (EQCM) allows one to study changes in the interfacial mass and physical properties associated with electron transfer processes occurring at the electrode surface, such as those accompanying electropolymerization of thin films. We have applied EQCM to study and compare the formation and properties of polymeric thin films formed from amphiphilic and non-amphiphilic phenolic and tyrosine monomers and comonomer systems. Also, we show the applicability of using EQCM to study polymeric films formed as a result of enzymatic polymerization processes, to create enzyme-entrapped polymer electrodes, and to create biosensors. Lastly, we briefly discuss QCM application to studies of cell properties such as adhesion and to create cell QCM biosensors that have interesting applications in the area of drug discovery.

In recent years there has been an exponential growth in scientific reports in which the quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) technique plays a key role in elucidating various aspects of biomacromolecular recognition reactions. In this short overview, the key steps in the development of a special variant of the QCM technique, generally named quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D), are summarized. The key feature of the QCM-D technique, in comparison with the traditional variant, is that, in addition to changes in resonance frequency, , it also provides simultaneous measurements of changes in energy dissipation, , induced upon interfacial reactions. Although these two parameters can be measured in various ways, focus is herein put on a means to obtain temporal variations in  and  by probing the decay of the crystal's oscillation after a rapid excitation close to the resonance frequency. By highlighting studies focusing on (i) DNA immobilization and subsequent hybridization, (ii) supported cell membrane mimics, and (iii) more complex situations, such as systems displaying film resonance behavior, we highlight both technical and theoretical aspects that have been essential for the increasing popularity of the QCM-D technique. Hence, far from all existing literature will be covered, and this contribution should therefore be read as a brief overview, rather than a comprehensive review, focusing on key components responsible for the high potential of the QCM-D technique to contribute to biointerface science in general, and the fields of research devoted to primarily biomacromolecular interactions in particular.

In recent years there has been an exponential growth in scientific reports in which the quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) technique plays a key role in elucidating various aspects of biomacromolecular recognition reactions. In this short overview, the key steps in the development of a special variant of the QCM technique, generally named quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D), are summarized. The key feature of the QCM-D technique, in comparison with the traditional variant, is that, in addition to changes in resonance frequency, , it also provides simultaneous measurements of changes in energy dissipation, , induced upon interfacial reactions. Although these two parameters can be measured in various ways, focus is herein put on a means to obtain temporal variations in and by probing the decay of the crystal’s oscillation after a rapid excitation close to the resonance frequency. By highlighting studies focusing on (i) DNA immobilization and subsequent hybridization, (ii) supported cell membrane mimics, and (iii) more complex situations, such as systems displaying film resonance behavior, we highlight both technical and theoretical aspects that have been essential for the increasing popularity of the QCM-D technique. Hence, far from all existing literature will be covered, and this contribution should therefore be read as a brief overview, rather than a comprehensive review, focusing on key components responsible for the high potential of the QCM-D technique to contribute to biointerface science in general, and the fields of research devoted to primarily biomacromolecular interactions in particular.

Following the release of widely available commercial instruments in the 1990s, researchers have driven the development of biosensor-based methods for profiling and screening of small molecule and proteinaceous therapeutic drug candidates. Medicinal chemists have in turn demanded faster and more accurate assays for characterisation of drug candidate interactions with target receptors, serum proteins and side-effect profiling receptors. In response to this challenge, Akubio Ltd. (Cambridge, UK) has been developing an advanced label-free detection platform, resonant acoustic profiling (RAP™). This evolution of the basic QCM approach has the potential to change the way assays are performed and to generate novel information on molecular interactions. Key attributes covered in this chapter include the ability to multiplex to high numbers of resonators, the addition of robust interfacial surface chemistries, fully automated sample handling and sample processing, disposable microfluidic cassettes with submicrolitre dead volumes, and more sensitive detection electronics.

Akubio has also developed a sensitive and economical method to directly detect particulate analytes. The technique, which we term rupture event scanning (REVS™), is based on control of the amplitude of oscillation of an acoustic wave device on which the analytes have been captured. In this chapter, example applications of RAP™for proteins and small molecules and REVS™for virus detection are presented. The physical forces involved in the processes are also discussed.

Following the release of widely available commercial instruments in the 1990s, researchers have driven the development of biosensor-based methods for profiling and screening of small molecule and proteinaceous therapeutic drug candidates. Medicinal chemists have in turn demanded faster and more accurate assays for characterisation of drug candidate interactions with target receptors, serum proteins and side-effect profiling receptors. In response to this challenge, Akubio Ltd. (Cambridge, UK) has been developing an advanced label-free detection platform, resonant acoustic profiling (RAP™). This evolution of the basic QCM approach has the potential to change the way assays are performed and to generate novel information on molecular interactions. Key attributes covered in this chapter include the ability to multiplex to high numbers of resonators, the addition of robust interfacial surface chemistries, fully automated sample handling and sample processing, disposable microfluidic cassettes with submicrolitre dead volumes, and more sensitive detection electronics.

Akubio has also developed a sensitive and economical method to directly detect particulate analytes. The technique, which we term rupture event scanning (REVS™), is based on control of the amplitude of oscillation of an acoustic wave device on which the analytes have been captured. In this chapter, example applications of RAP™ for proteins and small molecules and REVS™ for virus detection are presented. The physical forces involved in the processes are also discussed.