QCM biosensor for testing the inflammatory response to blood-contacting biomaterials.

Inflammation is the primary problem associated with blood-contacting artificial organs. Leucocytes play an essential role in the generation of the inflammatory response. Inflammation can be defined in a variety of ways. The goal of this research is to develop a biosensor system that is less complicated and faster responding than conventional methods. In this study, highly sensitive QCM crystals were chemically modified to measure changes in adsorbed mass on the surface and were used to detect activated neutrophils. Leucocyte activation was quantified by measuring the change in frequency of the QCM. QCM crystals with immobilized anti-C3a were tested in vitro using different concentrations of neutrophils. The measured frequency shifts were proportional to neutrophil number, indicating that activated neutrophils attach to the surface of the QCM. These results were supported by AFM surface topography measurements and SEM images. This method presents a rapid, inexpensive, and easy bioassay that tests the inflammatory response to blood-contacting artificial organs.