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| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Preprint |
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2026
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| Online Access: | https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.17403 |
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| _version_ | 1866913045252407296 |
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| author | Kannan, Hansa Babu, Ram Prakash Ghosh, Trisha Mohapatra, Arpita Dutta, Mainak Ganesan, Adarsh |
| author_facet | Kannan, Hansa Babu, Ram Prakash Ghosh, Trisha Mohapatra, Arpita Dutta, Mainak Ganesan, Adarsh |
| contents | Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) sensors are widely used to study biological and soft-matter interfaces due to their exceptional sensitivity to mass loading and interfacial mechanical properties. While classical QCM theory assumes predominantly shear-wave coupling into a semi-infinite Newtonian liquid, finite liquid thickness and acoustic reflections give rise to pronounced compressional (longitudinal) wave effects that strongly modulate both resonance frequency and motional resistance. Such compressional acoustic-wave responses should be properly accounted for when sensing in the liquid phase, for instance when working with cell suspensions. In this work, we systematically investigate compressional-wave responses in cell culture media including DMEM and RPMI-1640 across varying droplet volumes using a 5 MHz AT-cut QCM. Time-resolved measurements are analyzed using four parameters: the time period of compressional acoustic waves (Tca), the time associated with a phase shift between resonance frequency and resistance oscillations (Tp), the peak-to-peak shifts in frequency (Δfpp) and resistance (ΔRpp). DMEM and RPMI-1640 both exhibit strong volume-dependent periodic oscillations. At lower volumes, they exhibit low-frequency oscillations with a time period of approximately 40 minutes. However, as volume increases, the oscillations gradually evolve into high-frequency oscillations with a time period Tca of approximately 5 minutes. The peak-to-peak shifts (Δfpp) and (ΔRpp) are approximately 100-150 Hz and 40-60 Ω, respectively. The resonance frequency and resistance oscillations also exhibit a phase shift Tp of approximately 10 minutes. These results highlight that compressional-wave artifacts occur even in simple cell culture media, necessitating their explicit consideration when interpreting QCM data in the presence of cells. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2604_17403 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Observation of Compressional Acoustic Wave Responses in Cell Culture Media Using a Quartz Crystal Microbalance Kannan, Hansa Babu, Ram Prakash Ghosh, Trisha Mohapatra, Arpita Dutta, Mainak Ganesan, Adarsh Soft Condensed Matter Applied Physics Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) sensors are widely used to study biological and soft-matter interfaces due to their exceptional sensitivity to mass loading and interfacial mechanical properties. While classical QCM theory assumes predominantly shear-wave coupling into a semi-infinite Newtonian liquid, finite liquid thickness and acoustic reflections give rise to pronounced compressional (longitudinal) wave effects that strongly modulate both resonance frequency and motional resistance. Such compressional acoustic-wave responses should be properly accounted for when sensing in the liquid phase, for instance when working with cell suspensions. In this work, we systematically investigate compressional-wave responses in cell culture media including DMEM and RPMI-1640 across varying droplet volumes using a 5 MHz AT-cut QCM. Time-resolved measurements are analyzed using four parameters: the time period of compressional acoustic waves (Tca), the time associated with a phase shift between resonance frequency and resistance oscillations (Tp), the peak-to-peak shifts in frequency (Δfpp) and resistance (ΔRpp). DMEM and RPMI-1640 both exhibit strong volume-dependent periodic oscillations. At lower volumes, they exhibit low-frequency oscillations with a time period of approximately 40 minutes. However, as volume increases, the oscillations gradually evolve into high-frequency oscillations with a time period Tca of approximately 5 minutes. The peak-to-peak shifts (Δfpp) and (ΔRpp) are approximately 100-150 Hz and 40-60 Ω, respectively. The resonance frequency and resistance oscillations also exhibit a phase shift Tp of approximately 10 minutes. These results highlight that compressional-wave artifacts occur even in simple cell culture media, necessitating their explicit consideration when interpreting QCM data in the presence of cells. |
| title | Observation of Compressional Acoustic Wave Responses in Cell Culture Media Using a Quartz Crystal Microbalance |
| topic | Soft Condensed Matter Applied Physics |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.17403 |