Development of a Magnetically Enhanced Quartz Crystal Microbalance

Research pertaining to immunosensors has often been driven by, and limited to, the analyte detection limit of the system in use. Recently, a great deal of attention has been paid to piezoelectric sensing devices, more specifically: quartz crystal microbalances (QCM). In an attempt to push the detection limit of these devices, a race to find novel methods for enhancing the resonator output has transpired. This study explores the feasibility and implementation of a technique in which the QCM output sensitivity, when subjected to magnetic micro or nanoparticles while in the presence of a magnetic field, is increased. The combination of a mathematical model and a computer simulation were used to forecast the experimental result. A QCM housing design was then discussed, modeled, and fabricated. Lastly, two studies were performed in order to prove that a QCM response can be amplified by the technique described in this work