An Acetylcholinesterase Antibody-based Quartz Crystal Microbalance For The Rapid Identification Of Spinal Ventral And Dorsal Roots

The fast and accurate identification of nerve tracts is critical for successful nerveanastomosis. Taking advantage of differences in acetylcholinesterase content betweenthe spinal ventral and dorsal roots, we developed a novel quartz crystal microbalancemethod to distinguish between these nerves based on acetylcholinesterase antibodyreactivity. The acetylcholinesterase antibody was immobilized on the electrodesurface of a quartz crystal microbalance and reacted with the acetylcholinesterase insample solution. The formed antigen and antibody complexes added to the mass ofthe electrode inducing a change in frequency of the electrode. The spinal ventral anddorsal roots were distinguished by the change in frequency. The ventral and dorsalroots were cut into1to2-mm-long segments and then soaked in250μL PBS.Acetylcholinesterase antibody was immobilized on the quartz crystal microbalancegold electrode surface. The results revealed that in10minutes, both spinal ventral anddorsal roots induced a frequency change; however, the frequency change induced bythe ventral roots was notably higher than that induced by the dorsal roots. No changewas induced by bovine serum albumin or PBS. These results clearly demonstrate thata quartz crystal microbalance sensor can be used as a rapid, highly sensitive andaccurate detection tool for the quick identification of spinal nerve rootsintraoperatively.