A reusable QCR aptasensor for the detection of Brevetoxin-2 in shellfish.

Brevetoxins (BTX) are pharmacologically active, lipid soluble cyclic polyether neurotoxins that are known to cause a wide range of neurological symptoms in humans.Harvesting and consumption of infected molluscs provide an entry point for BTXs into, the food chain, causing long-term health effects on accumulation for individuals, commonly in people with a compromised immune system and existing allergies. This study is an acoustic assay that has been constructed using a 9 MHz AT-cut quartz crystal resonator modified by attaching a specific single-stranded DNA aptamer.

Simplex optimization of acoustic assay for plasminogen activators.

This article discusses the optimization of a newly developed method for measuring the activity of plasminogen activators using a thickness-shear-mode acoustic sensor. A variable-size simplex algorithm was used for optimization. Preliminary tests were performed to design the first simplex.

Acoustic determination of performance and equivalence of plasminogen activators.

A reliable method for the measurement of different plasminogen activators is of great interest for both manufacturing and clinical medicine. A one-step assay based on a thickness shear mode acoustic sensor has been developed for this purpose. Two separate mixtures of substrates (fibrinogen and plasminogen) and enzymes (thrombin and the plasminogen activator) were mixed, and placed on the acoustic sensor surface.

One-step thickness shear mode acoustic assay for plasminogen activators.

A new procedure is presented for the measurement of plasminogen activators using a thickness shear mode sensor and a modified version of the fibrin plate assay at the micro-scale. Separate, well-mixed solutions of the substrates fibrinogen and plasminogen, and enzymes thrombin and the plasminogen activator sample were mixed together and placed on the sensor surface. The temperature and evaporation were controlled during the assay.

Acoustic coupling of transverse waves as a mechanism for the label-free detection of protein-small molecule interactions.

An on-line acoustic transverse wave device has been used to study the binding interactions of human serum albumin with the small molecule drug, warfarin. Four linking systems for the covalent attachment of the protein to the surface of the gold electrode of the sensor were employed, namely thioctic acid, cysteamine, an N-hydroxysuccinimide ester and 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid. All the attachment protocols involve the ability of thiols to form gold-sulfur bonds at the metal surface.