Acoustic transducers and soft-lithography - detection of biological analytes

Chemical sensors for cells, viruses and enzymes based on QCMs and SAWs were developed for applications in medicine, biotechnology and biological warfare control. Soft-lithography is a tool for patterning polymer films on the transducers by a self-organisation process around the biological analytes. Fast sensor responses within a few minutes enable us to characterize biological particles even in a complex matrix as plant sap or blood. Thus, the geometry and surface properties of the resulting pits are decisive for e.g. the selective re-inclusion of cells and their mass sensitive detection. Furthermore even blood groups and the different serotypes of e.g. rhino viruses can be distinguished.