The Quartz Crystal Microbalance and the Electrochemical QCM: Applications to Studies of Thin Polymer Films, Electron Transfer Systems, Biological Macromolecules, Biosensors, and Cells

Abstract

In this chapter we focus on the application of the piezoelectric-based quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) technique to create and study thin polymeric films. The electrochemical variant of the quartz crystal microbalance technique (EQCM) allows one to study changes in the interfacial mass and physical properties associated with electron transfer processes occurring at the electrode surface, such as those accompanying electropolymerization of thin films. We have applied EQCM to study and compare the formation and properties of polymeric thin films formed from amphiphilic and non-amphiphilic phenolic and tyrosine monomers and comonomer systems. Also, we show the applicability of using EQCM to study polymeric films formed as a result of enzymatic polymerization processes, to create enzyme-entrapped polymer electrodes, and to create biosensors. Lastly, we briefly discuss QCM application to studies of cell properties such as adhesion and to create cell QCM biosensors that have interesting applications in the area of drug discovery.