The formation of supported lipid mono- and bilayers on a thiol-coated surface was monitored by utilising the acoustic Love waveguide device. The detection of the lipid layers was used as a model system for relating the phase response to the deposited mass and studying the sensor's response to the regeneration of the surface. The sensitivity of the acoustic device revealed that, in addn. to the mass change occurring during the deposition of the lipid layers, the viscoelastic properties of the interface change significantly. Finally, a biosensor system was studied, where the antigen was self-assembled on the device surface and the binding and further displacement of its complementary antibody monitored. [on SciFinder (R)]