Quartz crystal microbalance based nanosensor for lysozyme detection with lysozyme imprinted nanoparticles

Area of Science:

• Biosensors
• Nanotechnology
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Lysozyme is a crucial enzyme found in biological fluids and egg white.
• Accurate and real-time detection of lysozyme is important for various applications.
• Existing detection methods may lack sensitivity or real-time capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a highly sensitive and selective quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) nanosensor for real-time lysozyme detection.
• To prepare and characterize lysozyme-imprinted (MIP) nanoparticles for sensor fabrication.
• To evaluate the performance of the QCM nanosensor in aqueous solutions and natural sources.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of lysozyme-imprinted (MIP) nanoparticles via mini-emulsion polymerization.
• Characterization of MIP nanoparticles using TEM, zeta-sizer, and FTIR-ATR.
• Fabrication of the QCM nanosensor by immobilizing MIP nanoparticles onto a gold surface.
• Characterization of the nanosensor using AFM and ellipsometry.
• Performance evaluation including detection limit, selectivity, and sensitivity.

Main Results:

• MIP nanoparticles with a size of approximately 50 nm were successfully synthesized.
• The QCM nanosensor exhibited a nanoparticle film close to a monolayer.
• The detection limit for lysozyme was determined to be as low as 1.2 ng/mL.
• High selectivity was confirmed using albumin as a competitor molecule.
• The nanosensor demonstrated high sensitivity and selectivity for lysozyme across a wide concentration range (0.2-1500 μg/mL in aqueous solutions and 460-1500 ng/mL in egg white).

Conclusions:

• The developed QCM nanosensor is effective for the real-time detection of lysozyme.
• The sensor offers excellent sensitivity and selectivity for lysozyme detection in diverse matrices.
• This technology holds promise for various applications requiring rapid and accurate lysozyme quantification.