Detection of the red tide-causing plankton Alexandrium affine by a piezoelectric immunosensor using a novel method of immobilizing antibodies

In this paper, the determination of Alexandrium affine in sea water was performed using piezoelectric immunosensors. In addition, we report a novel method of immobilizing antibodies on the quartz crystal immunosensors using plasma-polymerized ethylenediamine film. The films formed on the quartz crystals are extremely thin, homogeneous and incorporate amino groups. Sensors produced using this method show higher sensitivity than sensors made using conventional immobilization methods for example polyethylenimine or γ-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane.