Monitoring of mutagenic process with piezoelectric quartz crystal impedance analysis

A novel method for monitoring of mutagenic process of dimethyl sulfate to Salmonella typhimurium strain (TA100) was proposed by using piezoelectric quartz crystal impedance (PQCI) analysis technique. The time courses of responses piezoelectric impedance parameters for a quartz crystal in a culture system were simultaneously obtained and discussed. It was found that the motional resistance variation (DeltaR(m)) increases and frequency shift (Deltaf) of PQC sensor decreases correspondingly during the mutagenic process of the bacteria. These parameters could reflect the variations of viscosity and density of culture system. By fitting DeltaR(m) versus time curves toward Gompertz bacterial growth model, we obtained and discussed the bacterial growth parameters for both normal growth and mutagenic process. The experiments showed that the proposed method could provide real time and multidimensional impedance information to the monitoring of mutagenic process.     

Real-time monitoring of formaldehyde-induced DNA-lysozyme cross-linking with piezoelectric quartz crystal impedance analysis

A novel method for monitoring, in real time, the formaldehyde (FA)-induced DNA-protein cross-linking process with the piezoelectric quartz crystal impedance (PQCI) technique is proposed. The method was used to monitor FA-induced DNA-lysozyme cross-link formation. Lysozyme was directly immobilized on the silver electrode surface of a piezoelectric quartz crystal by adsorption. The lysozyme-coated piezoelectric sensor was in contact with FA and DNA solutions. The time courses of the resonant frequency and equivalent circuit parameters of the sensor during the cross-linking were simultaneously obtained and are discussed in detail. On the basis of the feature of the multi-dimensional information provided by the PQCI technique, it was concluded that the observed frequency decrease could be mainly ascribed to the mass increase resulting from the cross-linking. According to the frequency decrease with time, the kinetics of the cross-linking process were quantitatively studied. A piezoelectric response model for the cross-linking was theoretically derived. Fitting the experimental data to the model, the kinetic parameters, such as the binding and dissociation rate constants (k(1) and k(-1)) and the cross-linking equilibrium constant (Ka), were determined. At 37 degrees C, the k(1), k(-1) and Ka values obtained were 7.0 (+/-0.1) x 10(-5) (microg ml(-1))(-1) s(-1), 6.6 (+/-0.1) x 10(-3) s(-1) and 1.06 (+/-0.02) x 10(-2) (microg ml(-1))(-1), respectively.     

A new study of the degradation of hyaluronic acid by hyaluronidase using quartz crystal impedance technique

A new quartz crystal impedance sensing technique for the assay of hyaluronidase (HAse) activity is presented. It is based on the changes in viscosity and density during the enzymatic hydrolysis of hyaluronic acid (HA) by HAse. The variations of equivalent circuit parameters of piezoelectric quartz crystal (PQC) during the enzymatic degradation are discussed. The motional resistance shift curves indicate that the viscosity of the test solutions decreases during the hydrolysis process. The initial hydrolysis rates of HA are obtained from changes in viscosity and density as a function of incubation time. Kinetic parameters (the Michaelis constant K(m) and the maximum hydrolysis rate V(max)) of the degradation reaction are estimated by using a linear Lineweaver-Burk plot in this work. The K(m) was 0.44+/-0.03 mg.ml(-1) and the V(max) was -(5.29+/-0.36)x10(-3) kg.m(-2).s(-1/2).min(-1).     

Silver-selective sensor using an electrode-separated piezoelectric quartz crystal modified with a chitosan derivative.

Silver(I) adsorbed selectively onto a quartz plate modified with N-(2-pyridylmethyl)chitosan in an ammonium chloride buffer solution containing EDTA, and the frequency of the quartz plate increased. It was supposed that the increasing frequency was caused by the desorption of adsorbed water on the chitosan derivative, which was induced from the reaction of silver(I) with the chitosan derivative. The concentration of the buffer, pH, temperature, conductivity and eluent affected the frequency shift resulting from the adsorption of silver(I). The frequency decreased at a conductivity lower than 2.2 mS/cm, and increased with increasing conductivity above this value. The frequency shifts caused by the adsorption of silver(I) were proportional to the concentration over the range 10-80 nM of silver(I), and the correlation coefficient was 0.9969. The detection limit and the relative standard deviation at 50 nM for five times were 6 nM and 3.4%, respectively. The proposed method was simple while showing higher sensitivity and selectivity.     

Study of fibrinogen adsorption on hydroxyapatite and TiO2 surfaces by electrochemical piezoelectric quartz crystal impedance and FTIR-ATR spectroscopy

The electrochemical piezoelectric quartz crystal impedance (EQCI), a combined technique of piezoelectric quartz crystal impedance (PQCI), electrochemical impedance (EI), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy-attenuated total internal reflectance spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR) were used to in situ study the adsorption process of fibrinogen onto the surface of biomaterials—TiO₂ and hydroxyapatite (Ca₅(PO₄)₃OH, HAP). The equivalent circuit parameters, the resonance frequencies and the half peak width of the conductance spectrum of the two biomaterial-modified piezoelectric quartz crystal (PQC) resonances as well as the FTIR-ATR spectra of fibrinogen during fibrinogen adsorption on TiO₂ and HAP particles modified electrode surface were obtained. The adsorption kinetics and mechanism of fibrinogen were investigated and discussed as well. The results suggested that two consecutive steps occurred during the adsorption of fibrinogen onto TiO₂ and hydroxyapatite (HAP) surface. The fibrinogen molecules were firstly adsorbed onto the surface, and then the rearrangement of adsorbed fibrinogen or multi-layered adsorption occurred. The FTIR-ATR spectroscopy investigations showed that the secondary structure of fibrinogen molecules was altered during the adsorption and the adsorption kinetics of fibrinogen related with the variety of biomaterials. These experimental results suggest a way for enriching biological analytical science and developing new applications of analytical techniques, such as PQCI, EI, and FTIR-ATR.     

Estimation of kinetics parameters for the adsorption of human serum albumin onto hydroxyapatite-modified silver electrodes by piezoelectric quartz crystal impedance analysis.

The adsorption of human serum albumin onto hydroxyapatite-modified silver electrodes has been in situ investigated by utilizing the piezoelectric quartz crystal impedance technique. The changes of equivalent circuit parameters were used to interpret the adsorption process. A kinetic model of two consecutive steps was derived to describe the process and compared with a first-order kinetic model by using residual analysis. The experimental data of frequency shift fitted to the model and kinetics parameters, k1, k2, psi1, psi2 and qr, were obtained. All fitted results were in reasonable agreement with the corresponding experimental results. Two adsorption constants (7.19 kJ mol(-1) and 22.89 kJ mol(-1)) were calculated according to the Arrhenius formula.     

Electrochemical piezoelectric quartz crystal impedance study on the interaction between concanavalin A and glycogen at Au electrodes

The carbohydrate research has emerged as a "new frontier" in chemical/biological field. The binding of lectin with carbohydrate is one of the important courses of life activities. The report studies concanavalin A (Con A)-glycogen interaction on gold electrode surfaces by electrochemical piezoelectric quartz crystal impedance (EPQCI) method. The piezoelectric quartz crystal (PQC) parameters, resonant frequency shift (Deltaf(0)) and the motional resistance change (DeltaR(1)), and the electrochemical impedance (EI) parameters, electrolyte resistance change (DeltaR(s)) and the double layer capacitance change (DeltaC(s)), were measured and discussed simultaneously. Two methods were adopted for measuring the Con A-glycogen association. Based on EPQCI measurement during Con A reaction with glycogen adsorbed on Au electrode, association constant K(a) and the amount of the binding sites s calculated are 1.48 x 10(6) M(-1) and 4.09, respectively. Based on single PQC measurement of glycogen reaction with Con A assembled on Au electrode, K(a) was estimated to be 1.26 x 10(6) M(-1).     

Monitoring of DNA oxidative damage with piezoelectric quartz crystal method

The piezoelectric quartz crystal (PQC) sensor was used to detect the whole process of DNA damage oxidized by H(2)O(2) system containing Cu(2+) or Zn(2+) based on the density-viscosity change of the detected solution. The PQC impedance method has been applied to further investigate the damage process of DNA oxidized by H(2)O(2) system containing Cu(2+). It was found that the ratio of DeltaR(1) to Deltaf(0) or DeltaL(1) coincided well with that calculated from Martin's equations reflecting the solution density-viscosity effect, suggesting that the continuing change in liquid loading on to the PQC surface caused the significant variation of Deltaf(0), DeltaR(1) and DeltaL(1). It has also been found that the H(2)O(2) system containing Cu(2+) could oxidize DNA more completely than that containing Zn(2+), and a trace Cu(2+) in the system could cause DNA damage. However, no significant breakage in the DNA backbone was observed if the system contained only H(2)O(2). The DNA concentration was linearly related to Deltaf(0s), which is the different between the initial frequency and the frequency after a reaction time of 45 min, in the range of 50-1000 mug ml(-1). The effect of H(2)O(2) or Cu(2+) concentration of was also investigated. The above-mentioned results that the H(2)O(2) system containing Cu(2+) or Zn(2+) could break the DNA backbone were also supported by the agarose gel electrophoresis technique.     

Study of the immobilization of alcohol dehydrogenase on Au-colloid modified gold electrode by piezoelectric quartz crystal sensor,cyclic voltammetry,and electrochemical impedance techniques

The immobilization of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) on Au-colloid modified gold electrodes has been investigated. Colloidal Au was first self-assembled onto gold electrodes through the thiol groups of an 1,6-hexanedithiol monolayer. Piezoelectric quartz crystal sensor, cyclic voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance techniques were used to investigate the immobilization of ADH on Au colloids. The cyclic voltammogram tends to be more irreversible with increased ADH concentration. In the impedance spectroscopic study, an obvious difference of the electron transfer resistance between the Au-colloid modified electrode and the bare gold electrode was observed. Using the piezoelectric quartz crystal sensor, the Michaelis constant, K(m), and the maximum initial rate, V(max), of the immobilized ADH were estimated as 6.03 x 10(-4) M and 0.63 Hzs (-1), respectively. The binding constant of ADH with nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) was also determined as 1.87 x 10(4) M(-1). Experimental results showed that colloidal Au can be used as a biocompatible matrix for enzyme immobilization.     

Oscillating frequency of piezoelectric quartz crystal in solutions

Oscillating frequencies of a piezoelectric crystal were measured in various solutions. One side of the crystal surface was coated with a silicon sealant. This coating was useful for measuring the oscillation of crystals in solutions for a wide range of products of density (?) and viscosity (η) and in electrolyte solutions. For measurement in solutions, the frequency change depended on the circuit used, whereas for measurements in air the circuit did not influence the frequency change. All experimental data showed that the frequency change from pure water, ΔF_w, followed ΔF_w = ? K(√?η ? √?_wη_w) except for electrolyte and polymer solutions, where K is a proportionality constant, η_w the density of pure water and η_w the viscosity of water.     

Piezoelectric quartz crystal impedance and electrochemical impedance study of HSA-diazepam interaction by nanogold-structured sensor

Human serum albumin (HSA) was immobilized on the surface of colloidal Au and exposed to diazepam. Colloidal Au were at first self-assembled on the gold electrode through the thiol groups of a 1,6-hexanedithiol monolayer. The real-time course of the resonant frequency and equivalent circuit parameters of the sensor during the protein-diazepam binding was determined for the first time by piezoelectric quartz crystal impedance (PQCI). On the basis of the multidimensional information provided by the PQCI analysis, it was concluded that the decrement of the observed frequency was mainly ascribable to the mass loading on the sensor surface. Compared with a bare gold electrode, the gold electrode self-assembled from nanogold colloids exhibits maintained biocompatibility, increased capacity, and more bioactivity. Cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance techniques were used to investigate the immobilization of HSA and the interaction between HSA and diazepam. Results testified that gold colloid could play the role of an efficient electron-conducting tunnel and have a very high ratio of surface to volume. Additionally, the kinetics of the binding process was investigated. The estimated binding constant (K) and the number of binding site (n) on one HSA molecule were 1.66 x 10(6) mol l(-1) and 1.28, respectively.     

Selective determination of silver in solution by adsorption on a piezoelectric quartz crystal

Electrodeposition of metal ions on the crystal is eliminated by using a specially constructed transistorized oscillator. When tartrate, citrate, EDTA or their mixtures are present, silver adsorption occurs. The frequency change is proportional to the silver concentration in the range 2 × 10^?7?1 × 10^?5 M after adsorption for 10 min from a 1 mM EDTA/3 mM tartrate solution. No significant interferences are caused by other metal ions. On the basis of cyclic voltammetric studies, it is suggested that silver is adsorbed as a silver (I) complex.     

Investigations by electrochemical quartz crystal impedance system-electrodeposition of silver and polyaniline

An electrochemical quartz crystal impedance system (EQCIS) which allows rapid and simultaneous measurements of admittance spectra of piezoelectric quartz crystal resonance during electrochemical processes was developed by combining an HP 4395A Network/Spectrum/Impedance analyzer with an EG & G M283 potentiostat. Non-linear least square regression analyses of simultaneously acquired conductance and susceptance data were discussed in detail, giving that R_m, C_s, 1/C_m (or L_m) and of as estimation parameters is the best choice among various fitting routines. Equivalent electrical circuit parameters of quartz crystal resonance during electrodeposition of silver and polyaniline and electrochemical processes of the deposits were obtained and discussed according to changes in electrode mass, electrode surface roughness and film conductivity etc. The significant changes of motional resistance R_m and static capacitance C, observed in the silver case was believed to result mainly from changes in electrode surface roughness and the linear relationship between them was well explained by the following equation, C_s = C_q+ C_e = ε_qA_q/ h_q + ε_ek²R_m/[h_e(ωρ_Lη_L]1/2.     

Dynamic quartz crystal impedance measurements of polyvinylferrocene film deposition

Dynamic crystal impedance measurements were used to study the electrochemically-driven deposition of polyvinylferrocene (PVF) films from dichloromethane solutions of PVF onto Au electrodes of a quartz crystal microbalance. Under all the conditions studied, the PVF films were non-rigid, to an extent that depended upon several experimental factors. Films deposited from solutions containing perchlorate salts of tetraalkylammonium salts departed less from rigidity than those deposited under otherwise identical conditions from tetrafluoroborate media. In contrast, the use of different tetraalkylammonium cations, or the use of a potential sweep vs. a potential step from 0 V to the deposition potential (0.7 V), made no significant difference. The departure from rigid characteristics varied with coverage. For the interval of time during deposition that the coverage was 10–160 nmol cm⁻² (of monomeric ferrocene units), the films showed no additional departure from rigidity. On the basis that the upper figure corresponds closely to a “monolayer” of terminally attached chains of mean length, we attribute this behaviour to the presence of a dense film, within which chain motion is considerably restrained.     

Improve the signal-to-noise ratio of a quartz crystal microbalance in an impedance analysis method

A new data treatment method for the improvement of the signal-to-noise ratio of a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) was proposed, where an averaged resonant frequency was calculated according to its conductance peak in an impedance analysis method. The relationship between the averaged resonant frequency and the medians of the conductance peak at different sampling heights was derived. It was shown that the signal-to-noise ratio of the averaged resonant frequency was about eight times of that of the resonant frequency calculated directly from its equivalent circuit parameters. The averaged resonant frequency of the QCM was applied to monitor the self-assembled process of a 6-O-(2′-(α-thiohydroxyacetamide)-ethyl)-diethoxylsilyl-β-cyclodextrin (OTED-β-CD), on gold surface as well as the adsorption of nitrophenol isomers onto the OTED-β-CD self-assembled monolayer film.     

Determination of lead in solution with a piezoelectric quartz crystal coated with copper oleate

Copper(II) oleate was coated on a piezoelectric quartz crystal, and the copper removed by passing EDTA solution. The remaining coating reacted with aluminium, copper(II), iron(III) and lead ions in a flowing acidic solution, to form absorbed compounds which changed the frequency of the crystal. Lead (3–40 μM) could be determined at pH 5.5–5.8 with good reproducibility. Interfering metal ions (Al³⁺, Cu²⁺, Fe³⁺) were masked with acetylacetone.     

Electrolytic determination of traces of iodide in solution with a piezoelectric quartz crystal

The frequency of a piezoelectric quartz crystal is decreased when iodide is electrodeposited on the silver electrode of the crystal at—0.05 V vs. Ag/AgCl. From 3 × lO^-7 M to 1 × 10^-5 M iodide can be determined with few interferences, and a procedure for removal of interfering species is given. Iodide is removed from the electrode by electrolysis at —0.4 V after each determination.     

Single-drop method for determination of cyanide in solution with a piezoelectric quartz crystal

The change in frequency of a horizontal quartz crystal in contact with a single drop of solution is measured. When the gold electrode of the crystal is dissolved by reaction with cyanide in alkaline solution, the further change of frequency is linearly related to cyanide concentration in the range 10^-3–10^-4 M at pH 10.4. Only silver(I) and mercury(II) interfere if EDTA is added.     

Calibration method for determination of acids and bases with piezoelectric quartz crystal sensors

Based on the linear relation between the frequency response of the piezoelectric quartz crystal sensor and the conductivity of the solution to be measured, calibration models for quantitative analysis of acid and base systems are derived and are verified both theoretically and experimentally. Then quantitative determinations of aspirin and penicilline were done with the calibration technique. The quantitative analysis results of the two true pharmaceutical systems indicate that the models, combining linear regression, can give precise and accurate concentration estimates, which can reduce the influence of the presence of interferences.     

Latex piezoelectric immunoassay: detection of agglutination of antibody-bearing latex using a piezoelectric quartz crystal

A method for immunoassay of CRP (C-reactive protein) was developed using a piezoelectric quartz crystal. Previous immunoassays using a piezoelectric crystal have required the formation of a thin film on the crystal, to which an antibody is affixed. The occurrence of antigen-antibody reaction increases the weight attached to the crystal surface, which causes a reduction in the oscillation frequency. In our method, the frequency reduction was observed using antibody-bearing latex without any film. One possible mechanism of the frequency change is that the crystal acts as a sensing apparatus for viscosity or density change in the solution due to aggregation of latex particles. The detection limit was almost the same as that for latex photometric immunoassay (LPIA). The present method has been designated as latex piezoelectric immunoassay (LPEIA).