Application of an acoustoelectronic technique to study ordered microstructured disperse systems with biological objects in a hydrogel

Abstract

Using acoustoelectronic sensors not containing sensitive coatings, we studied a series of microbiological preparations: yeast cells and bacteria, as well as virus particles, immobilized in hydrogels of different concentration. The obtained measurement data on the acoustic characteristics make it possible to (1) reveal the presence of biological objects in both fluid media and agarose-based hydrogels of various concentration; (2) establish the physical mechanism that results in acoustoelectronic detection; (3) evaluate changes in the concentration of biological objects and their electric conductivity. The data confirm the possibility of applying the acoustoelectronic technique to detect microbiological objects and observe their growth in hydrogel media. We discus the limitations and drawbacks of the acoustoelectronic technique.