Real-Time Biosensing Bacteria and Virus with Quartz Crystal Microbalance: Recent Advances, Opportunities, and Challenges

Student admission to the Atılım University Department of Nutrition and Dietetics started in 2017. Our Department is the only academic institution to offer undergraduate-level education completely in English in the field of Nutrition and Dietetics in Ankara. The studies of our department may be classified into two main categories; education and research. The current education programs are offered taking into consideration the awareness of the responsibility in offering a degree in Nutrition and Dietetics; by competent instructors in the field, and with an inter-disciplinary approach. Our aim for the future alumni of our undergraduate program is to undertake their responsibilities in the light of their information with a professional insight, and the confidence to constantly update themselves at hospitals, polyclinics, public health centers, ministries, catering institutions, food companies, universities and such where they may be employed in positions such as health care professionals, academicians, researchers, directors or policy makers.

Organizational Unit

Basic Sciences

(2019)

Abstract

Continuous monitoring of pathogens finds applications in environmental, medical, and food industry settings. Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) is one of the promising methods for real-time detection of bacteria and viruses. QCM is a technology that utilizes piezoelectric principles to measure mass and is commonly used in detecting the mass of chemicals adhering to a surface. Due to its high sensitivity and rapid detection times, QCM biosensors have attracted considerable attention as a potential method for detecting infections early and tracking the course of diseases, making it a promising tool for global public health professionals in the fight against infectious diseases. This review first provides an overview of the QCM biosensing method, including its principle of operation, various recognition elements used in biosensor creation, and its limitations and then summarizes notable examples of QCM biosensors for pathogens, focusing on microfluidic magnetic separation techniques as a promising tool in the pretreatment of samples. The review explores the use of QCM sensors in detecting pathogens in various samples, such as food, wastewater, and biological samples. The review also discusses the use of magnetic nanoparticles for sample preparation in QCM biosensors and their integration into microfluidic devices for automated detection of pathogens and highlights the importance of accurate and sensitive detection methods for early diagnosis of infections and the need for point-of-care approaches to simplify and reduce the cost of operation.