Study of Fluid and Mass Adsorption Model in the QCM-D Sensor for Characterization of Biomolecular Interaction

H.J. Kwon[1], C.K. Bradfield[1], B.T. Dodge[1], and G.S. Agoki[1]
[1]Department of Engineering and Computer Science, Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Michigan, USA
Published in 2009

Increasing attention has been paid to application of the quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) sensor for monitoring biomolecular interactions. This paper focuses on a practical application of protein-protein binding affinity measurement at low concentrations and minimal sample sizes (50-200 μl of 20-200 nM), which results in low signal measurement. A model simulating fluid flow, diffusionconvection, and mass adsorption within the QCM-D sensor was developed and studied using COMSOL Multiphysics. The simulated model shows that the onset kinetics of observed response curves is determined mainly by the mass transport rate of the mobile analyte.

Download