Biomolecule recognition using piezoresistive nanomechanical force probes
Highly sensitive sensors are one of the enabling technologies for the biomarker detection in early stage diagnosis of pathologies. We have developed a self-sensing nanomechanical force probe able for detecting the unbinding of single couples of biomolecular partners in nearly physiological conditions. The embedding of a piezoresistive transducer into a nanomechanical cantilever enabled high force measurement capability with sub 10-pN resolution. Here, we present the design, microfabrication, optimization, and complete characterization of the sensor. The exceptional electromechanical performance obtained allowed us to detect biorecognition specific events underlying the biotin-avidin complex formation, by integrating the sensor in a commercial atomic force microscope. ; This work has been supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation through projects NANOSELECT-CSD2007-00041(Consolider-Ingenio 2010) and TEC2011-23600, by the European Union through the COST ACTION TD1002 and partly supported by the PRIN-MIUR Project No. 2009 WPZM4S and by AIRC (Grant IG10412.) ; Peer reviewed