Eureka: A World-First Innovation!
Eureka is a nanogravimetric measuring instrument QCM/EQCM (Quartz Crystal Microbalance) capable of measuring masses in the nanogram and picogram range. Eureka can be used with both static and flow measurement cells for gas and liquid, which are manufactured by BioAge and sold with the instrument. It is the most versatile instrument on the market, offering excellent quality and value. This portable instrument is powered solely via the PC’s USB port. Compact, lightweight, reliable, and designed according to the latest advancements in microelectronics, Eureka is easy to use; simply connect it to a USB port, install the Windows™ acquisition software, and you’re ready to begin experiments without the hassle of multiple cables or complex manuals.
For liquid measurements, Eureka features an external connector providing an electrical connection to the quartz electrode in contact with the liquid, allowing the quartz electrode to function as the Working Electrode (WE) in an electrochemical system. This enables simultaneous electrochemical and nanogravimetric measurements (EQCM). When connected to a powered laptop, Eureka allows measurements and experiments in locations without a power source, ideal for field data acquisition or large-scale experiments that require complete mobility without a power connection.
Eureka supports both static and flow cell measurements for liquids, as well as a specially designed cell for gas phase analysis. BioAge can design custom measurement cells based on specific user requirements, adjusting volume, size, and materials as needed. The instrument’s measurement frequency range is highly versatile, from 0 to 50MHz, depending on the quartz crystal used.
The Piezoelectric Effect of Quartz
Every piezoelectric material generates an electric field when mechanically deformed. Consequently, when an external electric field is applied to a piezoelectric material, it undergoes mechanical deformation. Quartz, as a piezoelectric material, has the ability to measure the mass of thin films deposited on it since its resonance frequency depends on the mass on its surfaces. This frequency change follows the well-known Sauerbrey equation. In solid-state voltammetry, mass changes occur on the electrode surface during redox reactions. The Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) uses the inverse piezoelectric effect of quartz to measure mass changes on the quartz electrode surface. In electrochemistry, voltammetry is conducted using a quartz crystal electrode, exposed in the electrochemical cell solution, as the Working Electrode. The EQCM configuration enables simultaneous measurements of mass and current changes in a voltammetry experiment.
Management Software and Data Post-Acquisition Tools
Eureka is designed to connect to a PC, allowing it to control, acquire, display, and save data through an extremely user-friendly software compatible with MS-Windows™. Data acquisition can be quickly managed using the PLAY, PAUSE, and STOP buttons. Acquired data can be saved in an Excel-compatible format, and graphs can be saved as Bitmap images. With a single click, the software can open Excel on the PC, insert all data, and create numerous graphs ready for inclusion in documents and publications.
At any time, the software enables users to capture a snapshot of the frequency variation graph and save it as a bitmap image for use in documents and publications. The graph features zoom capability for regions of interest, and two cursors can be placed on the graph to calculate the frequency variation between any two points instantly. The software is exceptionally easy to use and includes many other valuable features, such as automatic recognition of the computer port to which the instrument is connected.
BioAge develops instruments and writes software only after carefully considering the needs and requirements of end-users, aiming to create products that are easy to use and provide all the features and functions that users expect.
Electrochemistry
System with EQCM EUREKA
Eureka can be easily integrated into your electrochemical measurement system by simply replacing the chemical solution container and connecting the working electrode cable to the Eureka instrument. This setup allows the quartz crystal electrode immersed in the solution to function as the Working Electrode, providing real-time and accurate information on mass changes occurring on the Working Electrode during the electrochemical process. During the experiment, users can simultaneously access information on redox reactions and mass deposition.
Gas Analysis
Eureka provides valuable insights into affinity reactions in the gas phase. By attaching a gas cell to the instrument with a quartz crystal coated with a sensitive film, it detects the target substance. The gas flows into the measurement cell containing the quartz crystal via two dedicated hydraulic connectors. Eureka monitors the mass change due to the affinity reaction between the sensitive film on the quartz and the gas mixture in the cell.
Film Deposition Studies
Eureka is useful for determining the mass of thin films deposited, removed, or grown on the quartz crystal surface. The system can be easily integrated into metal evaporators by placing the quartz crystal in the evaporator to receive real-time deposition data. Another method involves measuring the quartz crystal’s oscillation frequency before deposition, then removing it to deposit the film, and finally measuring the frequency again. The frequency shift provides information on the film’s mass.
Light Stimulation Studies
Eureka can study the effects of light stimulation on chemical bond energy. After coating the quartz crystal with the substance to be analyzed, light stimulation breaks the chemical bonds, causing a mass change. Eureka provides real-time data on these mass variations. When working with hazardous substances, a specialized transparent measurement cell (e.g., Plexiglass) can be used. This approach can also apply to other types of stimulation that induce chemical bond breakage.
Biological Applications
Eureka can study interactions between biological molecules, such as antigen-antibody binding, protein-protein interactions, complementary DNA/RNA strand binding, aptamer-ligand interactions, enzyme-substrate interactions, and more. After depositing the “target” molecule on the quartz crystal, introducing the analyte solution into the dedicated cell allows Eureka to monitor mass changes during molecular interactions in real-time. This system applies to a variety of fields, such as disease diagnosis via antibody detection, genetic mutation analysis, detection of toxic metabolites in food or environmental samples (water, air, soil), and identifying specific bacteria in controlled environments.
Other Applications
Eureka is highly versatile, applicable in all experiments and applications that involve measuring mass variation on the quartz crystal electrode.
Title
Piezoelectric crystal microbalance measurements of enthalpy of sublimation of C2 –C9 dicarboxylic acids
Authors
F. Dirri(1) , E. Palomba(1) , A. Longobardo1(1) and E. Zampetti(2)
(1)Institute for Space Astrophysics and Planetology, Research Area of Tor Vergata, Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, Rome, Italy
(2)Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research, Research Area of Rome 1, Via Salaria km 29,300 Monterotondo, Rome, Italy
Ref
Atmospheric Measurement Techniques, 9, 655–668, 2016
Title
Probing the interactions of mitoxantrone with biomimetic membranes with electrochemical and spectroscopic techniques
Authors
Dorota Niecieckaa(1), Agata Królikowskab(2) and Paweł Krysinski(1)
(1)Laboratory of Electrochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 1, Warsaw 02-093, Poland
(2)Laboratory of Intermolecular Interactions, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 1, Warsaw 02-093, Poland
Ref
Electrochimica Acta Volume 165, 20 May 2015, Pages 430–442
Title
Partitioning of doxorubicin into Langmuir and Langmuir–Blodgett biomimetic mixed monolayers: Electrochemical and spectroscopic
Authors
Dorota Nieciecka(1) , Agata Królikowska(2) , Aleksandra Joniec(1) , Pawel Krysinski(1)
(1)Laboratory of Electrochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 1, Warsaw 02-093, Poland
(2)Laboratory of Intermolecular Interactions, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 1, Warsaw 02-093, Poland
Ref
Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry, Volume 710, 1 December 2013, Pages 59–69
Title
Peptide molecular junctions: Distance dependent electron transmission through oligoprolines
Authors
Joanna Juhaniewicz and Slawomir Sek
Department of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 1, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
Ref
Bioelectrochemistry Volume 87, October 2012, Pages 21–27
Title
A dirhodium(II,II) complex as a highly selective molecular material for ammonia detection: QCM studies
Authors
Sandra Lo Schiavo(1), Paola Cardiano(1), Nicola Donato(2), Mariangela Latino(3) and Giovanni Neri(4)
(1)Dept. of Inorganic Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry and Physical Chemistry, University of Messina, Italy. E-mail: sloschiavo@unime.it
(2)Dept. of Matter Physics and Electronics Engineering, University of Messina, Italy
(3)Dept. of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy
(4)Dept. of Industrial Chemistry and Materials Engineering, University of Messina, Italy
Ref
Journal of Materials Chemistry, 2011, 21, 18034
Link
Title
Interactions of Doxorubicin with Self-Assembled Monolayer-Modified Electrodes: Electrochemical, Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR), and Gravimetric Studies
Authors
Dorota Nieciecka and Pawel Krysinski
Laboratory of Electrochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, 02-093 Warsaw, Pasteur 1, Poland
Ref
Langmuir, 2011, 27 (3), pp 1100–1107, American Chemical Society
Link
Title
Synthesis and functionalization of magnetic nanoparticles with covalently bound electroactive compound doxorubicin
Authors
Magdalena Brzozowska and Pawel Krysinski
Laboratory of Electrochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, Pasteur 1 Street, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
Ref
Electrochimica Acta Volume 54, Issue 22, 1 September 2009, Pages 5065–5070
Title
Sensors and Microsystems: Proceedings of the 13th Italian Conference : Roma, Italy, 19-21 February 2008
Authors
G. Neri(1), G. Micali(1), G. Rizzo(1), A. Bonavita(2)
(1)Department of Industrial Chemistry and Materials Engineering, Univ. of Messina, Contrada di Dio, Vill. S. Agata, 98166 Messina, Italy
(2)Department of Chemical Science and Technology, University of Rone Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
Editors
C. Di Natale, A. D’Amico, E. Martinelli, R. Paolesse
Ref
Page 119-123
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