Electrical Characterization of a Thiol SAM on Gold as a First Step for the Fabrication of Immunosensors based on a Quartz Crystal Microbalance.docVIP

Sensors 2004, 4, 105-114 sensors ISSN 1424-8220 ?2004 by MDPI /sensors Electrical Characterization of a Thiol SAM on Gold as a First Step for the Fabrication of Immunosensors based on a Quartz Crystal Microbalance Asma Tlili 1 , Adnane Abdelghani , Salwa Hleli and Mhamed A. Maaref 1* 1 1 1 Unité de Recherche de Physique des Semiconducteurs et Capteurs, IPEST, La Marsa, 2070 Tunis, Tunisia * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: aabdelghani@, Tel : 00216 71 74 0048 , Fax : 00216 71 74 65 51 Received: 15 February 2004 / Accepted: 18 August 2004 / Published: 30 August 2004 Abstract: In order to develop a robust biosensor based on quartz crystal microbalance technique for antigen detection, a control of the steps of the surface functionalization has been performed by impedance spectroscopy. The gold electrode is functionalized with the self-assembled monolayer technique. The high insulating properties of the acidic thiol monolayer has been characterized with cyclic voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy. The modified surface is activated with N-hydroxysuccinimide(NHS) and 1-(3- (dimethylamino)propyl)-3-ethylcarbodimide hydrochloride(EDC) cross-linker for antibody coupling. The non-specific sites are blocked with bovin serum albumine molecules. Different concentrations of antigen can be detected with a good reversibility in real time with the quartz crystal microbalance. Keywords: QCM, impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, antibody, antigen.  Sensors 2004, 4 106 Introduction The key feature of a preferment biosensor is the immobilization of a high density of functional molecules on the transducer surface. Many strategies have been involved for the immobilization of biomolecules for different surfaces [1]. The chosen immobilization method