A surface acoustic wave biosensor concept with low flow cell volumes for label-free detection

Special surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices using horizontally polarized surface shear waves can be operated in water. They allow an easy detection of molecules with biological relevance (e.g., proteins) via direct detection of the adsorbed mass. The transducer structures of conventional SAW devices are usually connected to the electronics by bond wires. In consequence, flow cell volumes can hardly be designed smaller than 50 microL. A new type of SAW device that is coupled capacitively with the electronics enables the reduction of flow cell volumes down to 60 nL, which decreases sample consumption and reduces the length of the measurement cycles down to a few minutes. To create an immunosensor, the SAW devices first are coated with a thin parylene layer for creating a sensor surface that is chemically homogeneous. Then OptoDex, a dextran containing both photoactive and functional groups is immobilized photochemically. Finally, antibodies are coupled via conventional EDC/NHS chemistry. The technique has been used to monitor urease binding at anti-urease-coated SAW devices in real time and with good resolution. Because of the simple sensor handling and the economical sample use, the new SAW device is particularly suitable for the design of an array.