Analysis of compressional acoustic wave responses in cell culture media for reliable QCM-based breast cancer cell monitoring
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) sensors are widely used to study biological and soft-matter interfaces due to their exceptional sensitivity to mass loading and interfacial mechanical properties. While classical QCM theory assumes predominantly shear-wave coupling into a semi-infinite Newtonian liquid, finite liquid thickness and acoustic reflections give rise to pronounced compressional (longitudinal) wave effects that strongly modulate both resonance frequency and motional resistance. Such compressional acoustic-wave responses should be properly accounted for when sensing in the liquid phase, for instance, when working with cell suspensions. In this work, we systematically investigate compressional-wave responses in typically used cell culture media for breast cancer cells including DMEM and RPMI-1640 across varying droplet volumes using a 5 MHz AT-cut QCM. Time-resolved measurements are analyzed using four parameters: the time period of compressional acoustic wave modulation ( T c a ) , the time associated with a phase shift between resonance frequency and resistance oscillations ( T p ) , the peak-to-peak shifts in frequency ( Δ f p p ̄ ) and resistance ( Δ R p p ̄ ) . DMEM and RPMI-1640 both exhibit strong volume-dependent periodic oscillations. At lower volumes, they exhibit low-frequency oscillations of the time period ≈ 40 minutes. However, as volume increases, the oscillations gradually evolve into high frequency oscillations of the time period T c a ≈ 5 minutes. The peak-to-peak shifts ( Δ f p p ̄ ) and ( Δ R p p ̄ ) are ≈ 100 − 150 H z and
Source: Frontiers in Sensors
Language: English
Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,353
OpenAlex ID: W7223034251