The use of Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation in Bioresearch
Prof. Santos-Martinez’ lecture will be focused on the potential applications of the Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation technology in biological research and more specifically on the personal experience of Prof. Santos-Martinez on the use of this technology on platelets and nanomedicine.
The principle of analysis of a Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) is based on changes of the frequency of vibration of a quartz crystal when an alternating electric field is applied across the crystal. When material deposits on the surface of the crystal there is a decrease in the frequency of vibration that is proportional to the mass deposited on it. When the adsorbed layer is thin and rigid this mass can be accurately calculated using the Sauerbrey equation (1). However, the measurement of changes of frequency alone does not offer any information about the viscoelastic properties of the deposited layer and, when the layer is soft and thick, the mass can be underestimated when the Sauerbrey equation is applied. However, the Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation technology (QCM-D), measures, in addition to changes in frequency of vibration, the called dissipation factor. This parameter is related to the viscoelastic properties of the adsorbed layer, and it can be used:
- to monitor conformational and structural changes of the deposited layer at real time
- to calculate the mass and thickness of thick and viscoelastic layers using specific mathematical models (2).
Prof. Santos-Martinez developed, during her PhD, a novel method for the quantification and characterization of platelet aggregation under flow conditions using a QCM-D. She demonstrated that the sensitivity of this device allows for the detection of platelet microaggregates, the very initial process of thrombus formation. Since then, her interest and expertise on the use of the device has been expanded and she applies this technology for investigating the effect of different compounds, nanomaterials, and novel formulations on platelet function and for looking at interactions of nanomaterials with biological systems.
(1) Sauerbrey G. The Use of Quartz Oscillators for Weighing Thin Layers and for Microweighing. Z Phys. 155 (2):206–222 (1959). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01337937
(2) QCM-D Measurement, Biolin Scientific. https://www.biolinscientific.com
Please send your registration requests for the lecture to aleksandra.roman@gumed.edu.pl
