title: Human cytomegalovirus detection by a quartz crystal microbalance immunosensor.
abstract: A piezoelectric affinity sensor has been developed to detect distinctive antigens of the human cytomegalovirus. Either the specific antibodies or the antigen were immobilized on the gold electrode. To develop a rapid immunoassay, various assay formats were tested in relation with the different antigen composition. First, a direct assay was carried out immobilizing the specific antibody on the crystal surface by passive adsorption. Next, Protein A, thiol/poly L-lysine mixed self-assembled monolayers were tested as methods of gold modification. A competitive format was exploited by immobilization of the antigen onto the crystal activated by SAM and poly L-lysine. This procedure yielded a preliminary calibration curve. A linear range between 2.5 and 5 µg/ml of gB epitope in solution and a detection limit of 1 µg/ml were measured.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Sensor Development, Department of Chemistry, National University of Ireland Cork (NUIC), Cork, Ireland
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Susmel
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: O'Sullivan
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Guilbault