Detection of globular and fibrillar proteins by quartz crystal microbalance sensor coated with a functionalized diamond thin film

0561903 - FZÚ 2023 RIV NL eng J - Journal Article
Procházka, Václav - Kulha, P. - Izsák, Tibor - Ukraintsev, Egor - Varga, Marián - Jirásek, Vít - Kromka, Alexander
Detection of globular and fibrillar proteins by quartz crystal microbalance sensor coated with a functionalized diamond thin film.
Applied Surface Science. Roč. 589, July (2022), č. článku 153017. ISSN 0169-4332. E-ISSN 1873-5584
R&D Projects: GA MŠMT(CZ) EF16_019/0000760; GA MŠMT LM2018110
Grant - others:OP VVV - SOLID21(XE) CZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/16_019/0000760
Institutional support: RVO:68378271 ; RVO:61389021
Keywords : NCD * diamond * QCM * BSA * FN * biosensors * functionalization
OECD category: Fluids and plasma physics (including surface physics); Biomaterials (as related to medical implants, devices, sensors) (UFP-V)
Impact factor: 6.7, year: 2022
Method of publishing: Limited access
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2022.153017

This study presents a sensor based on quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) coated with nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) thin film, functionalization method and novel application of such sensor. Diamond-coated QCMs (DQCMs) were superficially terminated by hydrogen and oxygen (H-NCD and O-NCD) to control its surface dipole/po- tential. Two protein solutions were tested: bovine serum albumin (BSA) and fibronectin (FN). We performed reference measurements of serial resonant frequency (SRF) of clean QCMs loaded with protein and compared them with SRF shifts DQCMs loaded with proteins. In order to investigate the influence of the deposited NCD thin film on QCM measuring capabilities, additional FEM analysis was performed. The simulation results showed that QCM sensors maintain the sensing capabilities with a rigid thin film of NCD on its surface. The shift of SRF was demonstrably caused by the weight of protein adhered to the diamond film’s surface. We compared masses estimated from the Sauerbrey equation to characterize the adhesive properties of the studied proteins. Comparing bare QCM and DQCM, we discovered diamonds enhance the sensing performance for proteins. At the same time, it saturates quickly with phosphate buffer saline used as a diluent solution for proteins. Results showed a significant increase in protein adhesion confirmed by the increase of the mass for both oxygen and hydrogen-terminated DQCMs. Moreover, a different time-dependent behaviour (i.e. different adsorption rate, degrees of physisorption and/or preference of the diamond surface functionalization) of the O-NCD and H-NCD QCMs was observed for BSA and FN proteins. In this meaning, we propose a schematic model which describes the detection principle of BSA and FN proteins on H- and O-terminated DQCM sensors. Finally, a simple proof of concept for using the functionalized diamond-coated sensors with current stimulation and EQCM (Electro- chemical Quartz Crystal Microbalance) is also proposed.

Permanent Link: https://hdl.handle.net/11104/0334329