An integrated QCM-based narcotics sensing microsystem.

We present the design, fabrication and successful testing of a 14x14x4 mm3 integrated electronic narcotics sensing system which consists of only four parts. The microsystem absorbs airborne narcotics molecules and performs a liquid assay using an integrated quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). A vertically conductive double-sided adhesive foil (VCAF) was used and studied as a novel material for LOC and MEMS applications and provides easy assembly, electrical contacting and liquid containment. The system was tested for measuring cocaine and ecstasy, with successful detection of amounts as small as 100 ng and 200 ng, respectively. These levels are of interest in security activities in customs, prisons and by the police.

[1]  B. A. Martin,et al.  Flow profile above a quartz crystal vibrating in liquid , 1989 .

[2]  S. Basu,et al.  A molecular dynamics study of the failure modes of a glassy polymer confined between rigid walls , 2006 .

[3]  Stephanus Büttgenbach,et al.  Miniaturized QCM-based flow system for immunosensor application in liquid , 2005 .

[4]  J. Gordon,et al.  The oscillation frequency of a quartz resonator in contact with liquid , 1985 .

[5]  Vladimir García-Morales,et al.  TEACHING PHYSICS: On the demonstration of the Young-Laplace equation in introductory physics courses , 2000 .

[6]  K.E. Petersen,et al.  Silicon as a mechanical material , 1982, Proceedings of the IEEE.

[7]  Göran Stemme,et al.  Behaviour and design considerations for continuous flow closed-open-closed liquid microchannels. , 2005, Lab on a chip.

[8]  C. Barnes,et al.  Development of quartz crystal oscillators for under-liquid sensing , 1991 .

[9]  Harold E. Hager,et al.  Velocity profile on quartz crystals oscillating in liquids , 1989 .

[10]  J. Gordon,et al.  Frequency of a quartz microbalance in contact with liquid , 1985 .

[11]  C. Lu,et al.  An on-line quantitative immunoassay system based on a quartz crystal microbalance. , 2000, Journal of immunological methods.

[12]  P. Woias,et al.  A quartz crystal biosensor for measurement in liquids. , 1992, Biosensors & bioelectronics.

[13]  Yuejun Zhao,et al.  Microparticle sampling by electrowetting-actuated droplet sweeping. , 2006, Lab on a chip.

[14]  Göran Stemme,et al.  A micromachined interface for airborne sample-to-liquid transfer and its application in a biosensor system. , 2006, Lab on a chip.

[15]  G. Sauerbrey.  Verwendung von Schwingquarzen zur Wägung dünner Schichten und zur Mikrowägung , 1959 .

[16]  Hongrui Jiang,et al.  A Microfluidic Device to Acquire Gaseous Samples Via Surface Tension Held Gas-Liquid Interface , 2007, IEEE Sensors Journal.

[17]  Göran Stemme,et al.  A liquid-triggered liquid microvalve for on-chip flow control , 2004 .

[18]  Chang-Jin Kim,et al.  A degassing plate with hydrophobic bubble capture and distributed venting for microfluidic devices , 2006 .

[19]  G. Sauerbrey,et al.  Use of quartz vibration for weighing thin films on a microbalance , 1959 .

[20]  A. Glassford.  Response of a quartz crystal microbalance to a liquid deposit , 1978 .

[21]  Thomas Gervais,et al.  Mass transport and surface reactions in microfluidic systems , 2006 .