There is a growing need for novel analytical techniques that enable real-time characterization of polymers and their interactions with various surfaces and biomolecules. Monitoring the rate of polymeric film formation, changes in the structural properties of polymeric films as they form and subsequent interactions with biomolecules is critical to fully understand material behavior and for optimizing polymeric materials for desirable characteristics.

Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation Monitoring (QCM-D) is a nanomechanical, acoustic technique that enables real-time characterization of the interactions between polymers and biomolecules occurring at surfaces. QCM-D functions by simultaneously tracking the changes in resonance frequency of an oscillating quartz crystal (Df) and, by periodically short circuiting the driving voltage to the crystal, recording the decay of the damped oscillations or the energy dissipation (DD) of the system. QCM-D reveals both changes in molecular mass, as measured by changes in frequency of the quartz crystal (Df) and provides novel insights regarding structural (viscoelastic) properties related to the dissipation parameter (DD) before, during and after the interaction or reaction occurring at the surface of the crystal.

Specific materials that can be studied with QCM-D include hydrogels, nanoparticles, polymers, polyelectrolytes, lipids, proteins and a variety of other thin films. Material responses or reactions that can be monitored with QCM-D include film assembly, hydration and swelling, film drying and collapse, crosslinking, degradation, polyelectrolyte multilayer build-up and biomolecular interactions with such surfaces.

In summary, QCM-D is an ideal analytical technique to study polymeric materials and to quantify their interactions with a variety of biomolecules as a critical step in the development of new materials and surfaces.