A flexural-plate-wave microbial sensor

Flexural-plate-wave sensors have been used for the monitoring of the metabolism of gel-immobilized yeast. In one configuration, gel layers directly on the sensor contain the microbes and also prevent non-specific adsorption of proteins and cells onto the sensor surface. In other experiments, sensors have measured the density of solution flowing into and out of a test tube filled with yeast-containing gel beads. From the theoretical sensitivity of flexural-plate-wave sensors to perturbations in liquid density, the authors have related observed frequency shifts to physiological variables.<>