Real-time mass sensing by nanomechanical resonators in fluid

Author

Ghatkesar, Murali K. ; Barwich, V. ; Braun, T. ; Bredekamp, A.H. ; Drechsler, U. ; Despont, M. ; Lang, H.P. ; Hegner, M. ; Gerber, Ch

Author_Institution

Inst. fur Phys., Basel Univ., Switzerland

fYear

2004

fDate

24-27 Oct. 2004

Firstpage

1060

Abstract

We have developed a sensitive method for real-time mass sensing in a fluid using a microfabricated array of nanomechanical cantilevers actuated at their resonance frequencies. The sensor platform consists of a streptavidin layer immobilised onto gold-coated cantilevers and interacts with biotin-labeled latex beads. The addition of mass involved with this process decreased the resonance frequency. By monitoring frequency spectra of higher harmonics we measured a mass sensitivity of 3.3 Hz/pg. Our data demonstrate that the sensitivity can be increased by operating the cantilever at higher harmonics.

Keywords

biosensors; gold; mass measurement; micromechanical resonators; microsensors; biosensor; biotin-labeled latex beads; cantilever sensor; fluid; gold-coated cantilevers; mass measurement; mass sensitivity; microfabricated array; nanomechanical cantilevers; nanomechanical resonators; real-time mass sensing; streptavidin layer; Biosensors; Fluid dynamics; Laboratories; Mechanical sensors; Monitoring; Physics; Resonance; Resonant frequency; Springs; Structural beams;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Sensors, 2004. Proceedings of IEEE

Print_ISBN

0-7803-8692-2

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/ICSENS.2004.1426357

Filename

1426357