IMPROVED PROTEIN BINDING RATE FOR BIO- SENSORS USING AC ELECTROOSMOSIS

Many biosensors are limited by long detection times that result from transport limitations of large macromolecules such as proteins which must reach the active surface in order to be detected. To overcome this difficulty, a common biosensor, the quartz crystal microbalance was modified with a microelectrode pattern capable of producing AC electroosmosis. The mixing pattern that is thereby generated enhances mass transport to the sensor surface. A hypothetical detection threshold of 200 Hz was reached in 4.5 minutes with mixing compared to 71.8 minutes under static conditions thus showing an order of magnitude improvement in detection time.