Quartz crystal microbalance analysis of DNA-templated calcium phosphate mineralization

Langmuir. 2012 Aug 21;28(33):12151-8. doi: 10.1021/la300949y. Epub 2012 Aug 7.

Abstract

A quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) sensor was developed for the quantitation of calcium phosphate mineralization and the assessment of DNA as a template molecule. Inherent advantages of QCM, such as nanogram sensitivity, temporal resolution, surface-based measurements, and flow capabilities, were leveraged in the design of this sensor, and in-line fluidic mixing was used to control precursor reaction. This research shows that DNA, a highly programmable anionic polymer, is able to template and control mineralization of calcium phosphate, with nucleation occurring in less than 15 min and initial rates ranging from 4 to 8 ng/min. FT-IR measurements show mineralized material to be calcium phosphate resembling hydroxyapatite (HAP) when a DNA template is used. DNA is a promising mineralization template, and the QCM proves to be a dynamic technique for a broad range of heterogeneous mineralization experiments in complement to classic, diffusion-limited, end-point analysis techniques.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • Biosensing Techniques
  • Calcium Chloride / metabolism
  • Calcium Phosphates / metabolism*
  • DNA / genetics
  • DNA / metabolism*
  • Minerals / metabolism*
  • Phosphates / metabolism
  • Quartz Crystal Microbalance Techniques*

Substances

  • Calcium Phosphates
  • Minerals
  • Phosphates
  • DNA
  • calcium phosphate
  • Calcium Chloride
  • sodium phosphate