RESUMO
Tear viscosity is a critical property affecting tear distribution and ocular surface stability. While not widely established as a primary diagnostic marker, deviations from normal viscosity can impact ocular health, potentially contributing to conditions such as dry eye syndrome. Despite their importance, traditional viscometers require sample volumes that are not feasible to use with tear volume. This research introduces a novel Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM)-based method for tear viscosity measurement, offering a viscometer prototype that operates with minimal sample volumes. Human tear samples, solutions used in artificial eye drops, and various commercial eye drop brands were evaluated. Results show that the QCM method aligns with established viscosity ranges. The average viscosity of healthy human tears was found to be 1.73 ± 0.61 cP, aligning with the typical range of 1-10 cP. Variability in the viscosities of eye drop can be attributed to differences in their chemical compositions. The QCM method offers benefits such as reduced sample consumption and rapid results, enhancing understanding of tear dynamics for ocular health. Further research with larger sample sizes is needed to establish normative viscosity values in healthy individuals and those with dry eye syndrome, which is crucial for validating the device's clinical efficacy.
Assuntos
Técnicas de Microbalança de Cristal de Quartzo , Lágrimas , Viscosidade , Lágrimas/química , Técnicas de Microbalança de Cristal de Quartzo/instrumentação , Técnicas de Microbalança de Cristal de Quartzo/métodos , Humanos , Soluções Oftálmicas/química , Síndromes do Olho SecoRESUMO
A quartz crystal microbalance method with dissipation (QCM-D) and attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared (ATR-FTIRS) spectroscopy were used to study the adsorption of L-cysteine (L-Cys) on Pt. Through QCM-D, it was possible to verify that the viscoelastic properties of the adsorbed species play an important role in the adsorption, rendering Sauerbrey's equation inapplicable. The modelling of QCM-D data exposed two different processes for the adsorption reaction. The first one had an activation time and is fast, whereas the second is slow. These processes were also resolved by ATR-FTIRS and identified to be water and anion adsorption preceded by L-Cys adsorption. Both techniques reveal that the degree of surface coverage is pH dependent. Spectroscopic data indicate that the conformation of L-Cys(ads) changes with pH and that the structures do not fully agree with those proposed in literature for other metallic surfaces. The assembling of the adsorbed monolayer appeared to be very fast, and it was not possible to determine or quantify this kinetics. The conformation is also controlled by applied potential, and the anion adsorption and interfacial water depends on the conformation of the adsorbed molecules.
Assuntos
Cisteína/química , Platina/química , Adsorção , Concentração de Íons de Hidrogênio , Cinética , Conformação Proteica , Técnicas de Microbalança de Cristal de Quartzo/métodos , Espectroscopia de Infravermelho com Transformada de Fourier/métodos , Estereoisomerismo , Sulfatos/química , Água/químicaRESUMO
Photocured dental resins are used extensively in restorative procedures in dentistry. Inadequate curing reduces the lifetime of the dental restoration, and consequently it is essential to precisely measure the polymerisation kinetics. In this study, two techniques, Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) and Photoacoustic Spectroscopy (PAS), were used to monitor the real-time cure and to obtain the optical absorption spectra of resins, respectively. From the PAS measurements, the precise peaks of absorption were identified, and were used as the appropriate wavelength of the photocuring light in the QCM monitoring. The combined use of these techniques allows reliable determination of the duration of the phases of physical and chemical changes that occur during photocuring. Two commercial dental resins were tested, and the results confirmed the advantages of using PAS and QCM to study polymerisation kinetics.
Assuntos
Técnicas Fotoacústicas , Processos Fotoquímicos , Técnicas de Microbalança de Cristal de Quartzo , Resinas Sintéticas/química , Lâmpadas de Polimerização Dentária , Técnicas Fotoacústicas/instrumentação , Técnicas Fotoacústicas/métodos , Técnicas de Microbalança de Cristal de Quartzo/instrumentação , Técnicas de Microbalança de Cristal de Quartzo/métodosRESUMO
In this work, it is shown that the quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) can be a powerful and simple tool for quick and precise kinetic enzymatic assays. This is shown by measuring immobilized acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity with variations of pH as a case study.
Assuntos
Acetilcolinesterase/química , Técnicas de Microbalança de Cristal de Quartzo/métodos , Técnicas Biossensoriais , Ensaios Enzimáticos/métodos , Concentração de Íons de Hidrogênio , CinéticaRESUMO
Xylella fastidiosa is a gram-negative bacterium that causes serious diseases in economically important crops, including grapevine, coffee, and citrus fruits. X. fastidiosa colonizes the xylem vessels of the infected plants, thereby blocking water and nutrient transport. The genome sequence of X. fastidiosa has revealed an operon containing nine genes possibly involved in the synthesis of an exopolisaccharide (EPS) named fastidian gum that can be related with the pathogenicity of this bacterium. The α-1,3-mannosyltransferase (GumH) enzyme from X. fastidiosa is involved in fastidian gum production. GumH is responsible for the transfer of mannose from guanosine diphosphate mannose (GDP-man) to the cellobiose-pyrophosphate-polyprenol carrier lipid (CPP-Lip) during the assembly and biosynthesis of EPS. In this work, a method for real-time detection of recombinant GumH enzymatic activity was successfully developed using a Quartz Crystal Microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D). The QCM-D transducer was strategically modified with CPP-Lip by using a solid-supported lipid bilayer that makes use of a self-assembled monolayer of 1-undecanethiol. Monitoring the real-time CPP-Lip QCM-D transducer in the presence of GDP-man and GumH enzyme shows a mass increase, indicating the transfer of mannose. The real-time QCM-D determination of mannosyltransferase function was validated by a High Performance Liquid Chromatography (LC) method developed for determination of GDP produced by enzymatic reaction. LC results confirmed the activity of recombinant GumH protein, which is the first enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of the EPS from X. fastidiosa enzymatically characterized.