Development of QCM immunosensor with small sample solution for detection of MMP-3 antibody

Detection of rheumatic arthritis is usually done by using radiographic method. This gold standard is good to detect the joint damage caused by rheumatic arthritis. However this method required radiography equipment which is in a rural area difficult to be provided. One of candidate biomarker to detect the existence of rheumatic arthritis is by using the existence of matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) in human serum. This experiment shows an early development of QCM immunosensor for the detection of MMP-3 antibody. Simple static reaction cell with small volume sample has been developed based on crystal resonator in a form of HC49/U. Polystyrene coating cured at 200 °C is used as a matrix for biomolecule immobilization through physical adsorption. The result shows that optimum concentration of MMP-3 to be immobilized using 20 μL sample reach at a concentration level of 220 ppm. The developed sensor has the ability to detect the existence of MMP-3 antibody down to 2.5 ppm.