Mechanism of flexural resonance frequency shift of a piezoelectric microcantilever sensor during humidity detection

In situ, amplification-free double-stranded mutation detection at 60 copies/ml with thousand-fold wild type in urine

We have investigated amplification-free in situ double-stranded mutation detection in urine in the concentration range 10-19 M - 10-16 M using piezoelectric plate sensors (PEPs). The detection was carried out in a close-loop flow with two temperature zones. The 95 °C high-temperature zone served as the reservoir where the sample was loaded and DNA de-hybridized. The heated urine was cooled flowing through a 1 m long tubing immersed in room-temperature water bath at a flow rate of 4 ml/min to reach the detection cell at the desired temperature for the detection to take place. With hepatitis B virus double mutation (HBVDM) and KRAS G12V point mutation as model double mutations, it is shown that PEPS was able to detect double-stranded HBVDM and KRAS with 70% detection efficiency or better at concentration as low as 10-19 M against single-stranded mutation detection at the same concentrations, which was validated by the following in situ fluorescent reporter microspheres (FRMs) detection as well as microscopic visualization of the FRMs bound to the captured mutant on the PEPS surface. Furthermore, the same double-stranded mutation detection efficacy was demonstrated at 10-19 M - 10-16 M in a background of 250-fold wildtype for HBVDM and 1000-fold wildtype for KRAS. Also demonstrated was detection of KRAS mutation at 10-19 M - 10-16 M of SW480 DNA fragments in urine.

Piezoelectric Plate Sensor (PEPS) for Analysis of Specific KRAS Point Mutations at Low Copy Number in Urine Without DNA Isolation or Amplification

We have examined in situ detection of single-nucleotide KRAS mutations in urine using a (Pb(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃)_0.65(PbTiO₃)_0.35 (PMN-PT) piezoelectric plate sensor (PEPS) coated with a 17-nucleotide (nt) locked nucleic acid (LNA) probe DNA complementary to the KRAS mutation without DNA isolation and amplification. In situ mutant (MT) DNA in urine in a wild type (WT) background was carried out at a flow rate of 4 mL/min and at 63 °C with the PEPS vertically situated at the center of the flow. Both the temperature and the impingement flow force discriminated the wild type. Under these conditions PEPS was shown to specifically detect KRAS MT in situ within 30 min with an analytical sensitivity of 60 copies/mL in a clinically relevant background of WT with concentrations 1000-fold greater than that of MT without DNA isolation, amplification, or labeling. For validation, detection was performed in a mixture of blue MT fluorescent reporter microspheres (FRMs) (MT FRMs) that bound to only the captured MT, and orange WT FRMs that bound to only the captured WT. The captured blue MT FRMs still outnumbered the orange WT FRMs by a factor of 4-1 even though WT was 1000-fold of MT in urine, illustrating the specificity of the point mutation detection.

Amplification-free in situ KRAS point mutation detection at 60 copies per mL in urine in a background of 1000-fold wild type

We have examined the in situ detection of a single-nucleotide KRAS mutation in urine using a (Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3)0.65(PbTiO3)0.35 (PMN-PT) piezoelectric plate sensor (PEPS) coated with a 17-nucleotide (nt) locked nucleic acid (LNA) probe DNA complementary to the KRAS mutation. To enhance the in situ mutant (MT) DNA detection specificity against the wild type (WT), detection was carried out in a flow with a flow rate of 4 mL min(-1) and at 63 °C with the PEPS vertically situated at the center of the flow in which both the temperature and the flow impingement force discriminated the wild type. Under such conditions, PEPS was shown to specifically detect KRAS MT in situ with 60 copies per mL analytical sensitivity in a background of clinically-relevant 1000-fold more WT in 30 min without DNA isolation, amplification, or labeling. For validation, this detection was followed with detection in a mixture of blue MT fluorescent reporter microspheres (FRMs) (MT FRMs) that bound to only the captured MT and orange WT FRMs that bound to only the captured WT. Microscopic examinations showed that the captured blue MT FRMs still outnumbered the orange WT FRMs by a factor of 4 to 1 even though WT was 1000-fold of MT in urine. Finally, multiplexed specific mutation detection was demonstrated using a 6-PEPS array each with a probe DNA targeting one of the 6 codon-12 KRAS mutations.

Simplified Aeroelastic Model for Fluid Structure Interaction between Microcantilever Sensors and Fluid Surroundings

Fluid-structural coupling occurs when microcantilever sensors vibrate in a fluid. Due to the complexity of the mechanical characteristics of microcantilevers and lack of high-precision microscopic mechanical testing instruments, effective methods for studying the fluid-structural coupling of microcantilevers are lacking, especially for non-rectangular microcantilevers. Here, we report fluid-structure interactions (FSI) of the cable-membrane structure via a macroscopic study. The simplified aeroelastic model was introduced into the microscopic field to establish a fluid-structure coupling vibration model for microcantilever sensors. We used the finite element method to solve the coupled FSI system. Based on the simplified aeroelastic model, simulation analysis of the effects of the air environment on the vibration of the commonly used rectangular microcantilever was also performed. The obtained results are consistent with the literature. The proposed model can also be applied to the auxiliary design of rectangular and non-rectangular sensors used in fluid environments.

Specific in situ hepatitis B viral double mutation (HBVDM) detection in urine with 60 copies ml(-1) analytical sensitivity in a background of 250-fold wild type without DNA isolation and amplification

We have examined in situ detection of hepatitis B virus 1762T/1764A double mutation (HBVDM) in urine using a (Pb(Mg(1/3)Nb(2/3))O3)(0.65)(PbTiO3)(0.35) (PMN-PT) piezoelectric plate sensor (PEPS) coated with a 16-nucleotide (nt) probe DNA (pDNA) complementary to the HBVDM. The in situ mutation (MT) detection was carried out in a flow with the PEPS vertically situated at the center of the flow in a background of wild type (WT). For validation, this detection was followed by detection in the mixture of MT fluorescent reporter microspheres (FRMs) (MT FRMs) and WT FRMs that emitted different fluorescence colours and were designed to specifically bind to MT and WT, respectively. At 30 °C and 4 ml min(-1), a PEPS was shown to specifically detect HBVDM in situ with 60 copies ml(-1) analytical sensitivity in a background of clinically-relevant 250-fold more WT in 30 min without DNA isolation, amplification, or labelling as validated by the visualization of the captured MT FRMs and WT FRMs following FRM detection where the captured MT FRMs outnumbered the WT FRMs by a factor of 5 to 1.

Label-free Growth Receptor-2 Detection and Dissociation Constant Assessment in Diluted Human Serum Using a Longitudinal Extension Mode of a Piezoelectric Microcantilever Sensor

We have investigated real-time, label-free, in-situ detection of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (Her2) in diluted serum using the first longitudinal extension mode of a lead zirconate-lead titanate (PZT)/glass piezoelectric microcantilever sensor (PEMS) with H3 single-chain variable fragment (scFv) immobilized on the 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (MPS) insulation layer of the PEMS surface. We showed that with the longitudinal extension mode, the PZT/glass PEMS consisting of a 1 mm long and 127 μm thick PZT layer bonded with a 75 μm thick glass layer with a 1.8 mm long glass tip could detect Her2 at a concentration of 6-60 ng/ml (or 0.06-0.6 nM) in diluted human serum, about 100 times lower than the concentration limit obtained using the lower-frequency flexural mode of a similar PZT/glass PEMS. We further showed that with the longitudinal mode, the PZT/glass PEMS determined the equilibrium H3-Her2 dissociation constant K(d) to be 3.3±0.3 × 10(-8) M consistent with the value, 3.2±0.28 ×10(-8) M deduced by the surface plasmon resonance method (BIAcore).

Label free detection of white spot syndrome virus using lead magnesium niobate-lead titanate piezoelectric microcantilever sensors

We have investigated rapid, label free detection of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) using the first longitudinal extension resonance peak of five lead-magnesium niobate-lead titanate (PMN-PT) piezoelectric microcantilever sensors (PEMS) 1050-700 μm long and 850-485 μm wide constructed from 8 μm thick PMN-PT freestanding films. The PMN-PT PEMS were encapsulated with a 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (MPS) insulation layer and further coated with anti-VP28 and anti-VP664 antibodies to target the WSSV virions and nucleocapsids, respectively. By inserting the antibody coated PEMS in a flowing virion or nucleocapsid suspension, label free detection of the virions and nucleocapsids were respectively achieved by monitoring the PEMS resonance frequency shift. We showed that positive label free detection of both the virion and the nucleocapsid could be achieved at a concentration of 100virions(nucleocapsids)/ml or 10 virions(nucleocapsids)/100 μl, comparable to the detection sensitivity of polymerase chain reaction (PCR). However, in contrast to PCR, PEMS detection was label free, in situ and rapid (less than 30 min), potentially requiring minimal or no sample preparation.

Array lead zirconate titanate/glass piezoelectric microcantilevers for real-time detection of Bacillus anthracis with 10 spores/ml sensitivity and 1/1000 selectivity in bacterial mixtures

An array of three identical piezoelectric microcantilever sensors (PEMSs) consisting of a lead zirconate titanate layer bonded to a glass layer was fabricated and examined for simultaneous, in situ, real-time, all-electrical detection of Bacillus anthracis (BA) spores in an aqueous suspension using the first longitudinal extension mode of resonance. With anti-BA antibody immobilized on the sensor surfaces all three PEMS exhibited identical BA detection resonance frequency shifts at all tested concentrations, 10-10(7) spores/ml with a standard deviation of less than 10%. The detection concentration limit of 10 spores/ml was about two orders of magnitude lower than would be permitted by flexural peaks. In blinded-sample testing, the array PEMS detected BA in three samples containing BA: (1) 3.3x10(3) spores/ml, (2) a mixture of 3.3x10(3) spores/ml and 3.3x10(5) S. aureus (SA) and P. aeruginosa (PA) per ml, and (3) a mixture of 3.3x10(3) spores/ml with 3.3x10(6) SA+PA/ml. There was no response to a sample containing only 3.3x10(6) SA+PA/ml. These results illustrate the sensitivity, specificity, reusability, and reliability of array PEMS for in situ, real-time detection of BA spores.

Sensitivity enhancement of a dynamic mode microcantilever by stress inducer and mass inducer to detect PSA at low picogram levels

We report two types of signal enhancement strategy derived from the origin of mechanical response, surface stress and mass, of the dynamic mode microcantilever for the detection of PSA at low picogram scales (low femtomolar concentration). The PSA detection at extremely low concentration levels is crucial to the early detection of relapses of prostate cancer after the radical prostatectomy and the detection of breast cancer in patient's serum. There is a clear need for the ultrasensitive detection of PSA via simple and rapid diagnostic tools. From the motives, to increase the sensitivity of the microcantilever, PSA polyclonal antibody (PSA pAb) as an additional surface stress inducer and PSA polyclonal antibody-conjugated silica nanoparticles (pAb-SiNPs) as a mass inducer have been applied to the PSA-captured microcantilevers. From two types of sandwich assay, we could confirm the sensitivity enhancement effects (2 approximately 4 times enhanced at the same concentrations) enough to detect PSA at low picogram levels (LOD of 1 pg/mL or below). Moreover, surface stress due to steric interactions between epitope-specific monoclonal antibodies was assessed to support a signal amplification strategy by stress inducer, and the reduction of signal enhancement due to stiffness increase by the mass inducer was studied to clarify the sensitivity enhancement of the microcantilever by mass inducer.

Enhanced Detection Resonance Frequency Shift of a Piezoelectric Microcantilever Sensor by a DC Bias Electric Field in Humidity Detection

We have examined the relative longitudinal flexural resonance frequency shift of a PMN-PT/tin PEMS with a DC bias electric field, E, in humidity detection. We showed that the relative resonance frequency shift could be enhanced by applying an E to the PMN-PT layer during detection. A maximum enhancement of more than three times in resonance frequency shift was observed at E = -6 kV/cm as compared to the resonance frequency shift without a bias field. The maximal relative resonance frequency shift at E = -6 kV/cm was about 1000 times larger than could be accounted for by mass loading alone.