title: Quartz-Crystal Microbalance (QCM) for Public Health: An Overview of Its Applications.
abstract: Nanobiotechnologies, from the convergence of nanotechnology and molecular biology and postgenomics medicine, play a major role in the field of public health. This overview summarizes the potentiality of piezoelectric sensors, and in particular, of quartz-crystal microbalance (QCM), a physical nanogram-sensitive device. QCM enables the rapid, real time, on-site detection of pathogens with an enormous burden in public health, such as influenza and other respiratory viruses, hepatitis B virus (HBV), and drug-resistant bacteria, among others. Further, it allows to detect food allergens, food-borne pathogens, such as Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium, and food chemical contaminants, as well as water-borne microorganisms and environmental contaminants. Moreover, QCM holds promises in early cancer detection and screening of new antiblastic drugs. Applications for monitoring biohazards, for assuring homeland security, and preventing bioterrorism are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), Via Antonio Pastore 1, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicola Luigi
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Bragazzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), Via Antonio Pastore 1, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Amicizia
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), Via Antonio Pastore 1, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Panatto
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), Via Antonio Pastore 1, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tramalloni
authors.affiliation: SSD "Popolazione a rischio," Health Prevention Department, Local Health Unit ASL3 Genovese, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Valle
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), Via Antonio Pastore 1, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy. Electronic address: robertobragazzi@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gasparini
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000821:virology; D036103:Nanotechnology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D011634:Public Health; D058525:Quartz Crystal Microbalance Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D014780:Viruses / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity
keywords: Biohazards and bioterrorism; Carcinogenesis and mutagenesis; Environmental monitoring; Food hygiene; Label-free devices; Nanobiotechnologies for public health; Pathogen detection; Piezoelectric mass-sensing devices; Public health; Water hygiene