@article{https://doi.org/10.1002/adsr.202500053,

title = {Ultrasensitive Detection of FKBP12 Using a Synthetic Receptor-Functionalized QCM Nanoplatform},

author = {Martina Tozzetti and Maria Raffaella Martina and Giacomo Lucchesi and Kristian Vasa and Ahtsham Ishaq and Laura Marsili and Piero Procacci and Stefano Menichetti and Gabriella Caminati},

url = {https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/adsr.202500053},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1002/adsr.202500053},

year  = {2025},

date = {2025-08-07},

journal = {Advanced Sensor Research},

volume = {n/a},

number = {n/a},

pages = {e00053},

abstract = {Abstract FKBP12, a peptidyl-prolyl isomerase implicated in cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and post-transplant anti-rejection mechanisms, represents a critical biomarker for early diagnosis and monitoring. Here, a novel diagnostic nanoplatform is presented for the detection of FKBP12 at nanomolar to picomolar concentrations in biological fluids. The platform integrates a gold-coated Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) functionalized with a synthetic receptor (GPS-SH1) and spacers within a Self-Assembled Monolayer (SAM), enabling direct and label-free detection of FKBP12 in complex biological samples. A careful strategy for the in-silico design and custom synthesis of the receptor is adopted, ensuring optimal binding affinity and additional chemical functionalities for surface chemisorption. The designed nano-architecture demonstrates exceptional sensitivity, with a detection limit in the picomolar range, and high selectivity, as confirmed by minimal interference from abundant serum proteins such as Serum Albumin and Immune Gamma Globulin. Furthermore, the SAM-functionalized sensors exhibit remarkable stability, retaining functionality for up to six months under storage conditions. This work not only advances the field of nanoscale biosensing but also provides a robust, reusable tool for FKBP12 detection, with potential applications in point-of-care diagnostics and personalized medicine. The platform's ability to operate in biologically relevant environments underscores its promise for real-world healthcare applications, including early disease diagnostics.},

keywords = {biomarker sensing, FKBP12 detection, nanosensors, openQCM Wi2, point-of-care diagnostics, Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM), Self-Assembled Monolayers (SAMs), synthetic receptors},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Samiei2025,

title = {Room-temperature ethylene glycol sensor based on cuprous oxide/MXene films},

author = {Sepehr Samiei and Asadollah Kalantarian and Azam Iraji zad and Narges Darmiani},

url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-12019-1},

doi = {10.1038/s41598-025-12019-1},

issn = {2045-2322},

year  = {2025},

date = {2025-08-05},

urldate = {2025-08-05},

journal = {Nature: Scientific Reports},

volume = {15},

number = {1},

pages = {28639},

abstract = {This study demonstrates a high-performance room-temperature ethylene glycol (EG) gas sensor using Cu2O/MXene bilayer films on quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) substrates, addressing critical needs for industrial safety and environmental monitoring. The fabricated sensors were systematically characterized by XRD, FTIR, and FESEM, revealing that the Cu2O/MXene bilayer configuration achieved exceptional performance with an ultra-low detection limit of 381 ppb, high sensitivity of 22.8 Hz/ppm, and excellent selectivity compared to individual Cu2O, MXene, or their mixture films. The enhanced sensing capability originates from synergistic effects between p-type Cu2O and conductive MXene, forming a Schottky junction that facilitates charge transfer and promotes EG adsorption through combined physisorption mechanisms involving hydrogen bonding with MXene's functional groups (OH, O, F) and interactions with oxygen species on Cu2O nanoparticles. At 72 ppm EG concentration, the bilayer sensor exhibited 12.6-fold, 3.6-fold, and 2.34-fold higher response than pure Cu2O, MXene alone, and their mixture film, respectively. While humidity tests showed a moderateþinspacetextasciitildeþinspace15% response reduction at 60% RH, the Cu2O/MXene bilayer maintained robust performance, establishing it as a cost-effective and reliable room-temperature sensing platform suitable for next-generation gas detection applications in challenging environments.},

keywords = {Cu2O/MXene bilayer, Ethylene glycol (EG), Gas sensors, MXene, openQCM sensors, Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM)},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{doi:10.1021/acs.langmuir.5c01380,

title = {Determination of Both Wet and Dry Mass of Water-Soluble Polymers Adsorbed on Planar Silica Using a Quartz Crystal Microbalance},

author = {A. P. Berisha and O. O. Mykhaylyk and S. P. Armes and A. Ambarkar and C. Malde},

url = {https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.5c01380},

doi = {10.1021/acs.langmuir.5c01380},

year  = {2025},

date = {2025-06-30},

urldate = {2025-06-30},

journal = {Langmuir},

volume = {0},

number = {0},

pages = {null},

abstract = {It is well-established that polymer adsorption at a model planar interface can be studied using a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). Normally, this technique reports both the adsorbed mass of polymer chains plus any bound or entrained solvent molecules. Thus the total adsorbed amount significantly exceeds that reported by optical reflectometry or determined from adsorption isotherms obtained for colloidal substrates using a supernatant depletion assay. Herein we report a new QCM approach whereby the dry adsorbed amount, Γdry, is obtained directly from the wet (solvated) adsorbed amount, Γwet, by switching from a liquid flow to a flow of nitrogen gas. The latter conditions lead to complete removal of the solvent, leaving only the desolvated adsorbed polymer chains. This strategy is exemplified for the adsorption of two well-known nonionic water-soluble polymers, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PNVP), from aqueous solution onto a model planar substrate (silica). These two systems were selected to facilitate direct comparison with the literature, which validates this new approach.},

note = {PMID: 40587480},

keywords = {Adsorption, nanoparticles, openQCM NEXT, polymers, QCM-D, Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM), sensors, Silica},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{AHAMED2025116392,

title = {Elliptical Electrode Designs in Quartz Crystal Microbalances: Enhancing Sensitivity in Liquid Biosensing Applications},

author = {Afri Ahamed and Chien Wei Ooi and Hui Jean Lim and N. Ramakrishnan and Tridib Saha},

url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0924424725001980},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sna.2025.116392},

issn = {0924-4247},

year  = {2025},

date = {2025-03-03},

urldate = {2025-01-01},

journal = {Sensors and Actuators A: Physical},

pages = {116392},

abstract = {The demand for highly sensitive and versatile sensors is rapidly growing in biomedical applications, where specific, sensitive, and rapid detection are essential. Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) is a popular analytical tool for such applications due to its high sensitivity and real-time monitoring capabilities. However, conventional QCM-based biosensing assays often suffer from poor sensitivity and high sample consumption, limiting their practicality. This study introduces a modified electrode design and a single droplet-based assay to enhance QCM-based bio-detection. Through extensive experiments, including contact angle analysis, damping, and viscosity measurements, we identified an optimal elliptical electrode design for single droplet-based liquid sensing. Using QCM crystals coated with molecularly imprinted polydopamine (MIPDA) sensing films containing recognition sites for detecting pepsin as a model protein, we demonstrate that QCM crystals with elliptical electrodes exhibit up to 10 times higher sensitivity than the industry-standard 1-inch circular QCM crystal. Additionally, the optimized QCM crystals showed linear sensitivity over a wider volume range, providing consistent detection at 250Hz/μl compared to the circular crystal's narrower range at 50Hz/μl. These findings establish a foundation for next-generation QCM platforms with superior sensitivity, reduced sample requirements, and broader adaptability, paving the way for advancements in biomedical diagnostics and environmental monitoring.},

keywords = {Deionised Water (DI Water), Elliptical Electrodes, Liquid Droplet Detection, openQCM Q-1, Protein Sensing, Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM)},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}