Arrays of dual nanomechanical resonators for selective biological detection.
Arrays of small nanomechanical resonators with dual geometry have been fabricated for sensitive biological detection. The arrays consist of silicon nitride resonating 100 nm thick cantilevers with sensing gold areas alternately placed on the free and fixed cantilever ends. The Au areas act as sensing regions as can be functionalized by means of thiol chemistry. The nanomechanical arrays provide a double flavor of the adsorbed molecules: the added mass reported by the cantilevers with the Au area at the tip and the nanoscale elasticity reported by the cantilevers with the Au area at the clamp. The devices were applied for DNA detection based on Watson-Crick pairing rules. The proposed design for nanomechanical resonators provides higher specificity for DNA sensing in comparison with conventional single cantilevers. The nanoscale elasticity induced by the DNA hybridization arises from the intermolecular interactions between the adsorbates bound to the cantilever and the surface stress.
Ramos
Daniel
D
Institute of Microelectronics of Madrid (IMM-CNM, CSIC), Isaac Newton 8 (PTM), Tres Cantos, 28760 Madrid, Spain.
Arroyo-Hernández
María
M
Gil-Santos
Eduardo
E
Tong
Hien Duy
HD
Van Rijn
Cees
C
Calleja
Montserrat
M
Tamayo
Javier
J
D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D017655:Silicon Compounds / Q000737:chemistry
D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D017655:Silicon Compounds; D006046:Gold; D004247:DNA; C032734:silicon nitride