| AVS 55th International Symposium & Exhibition | |
| Tribology Focus Topic | Wednesday Sessions |
| Session TR+MN+NC-WeM |
| Session: | Surfaces and Interfaces in MEMS/NEMS |
| Presenter: | R. Desikan, Oak Ridge National Laboratory |
| Authors: | R. Desikan, Oak Ridge National Laboratory D. RangaPrasad, Oak Ridge National Laboratory A. Passian, Oak Ridge National Laboratory R.H. Datar, Oak Ridge National Laboratory T.G. Thundat, Oak Ridge National Laboratory |
| Correspondent: | Click to Email |
Microcantilever arrays are emerging as an attractive platform for detection of biomolecules because of their high sensitivity, miniature size, and their ability to work under solution. Selectivity in detection is accomplished by immobilizing receptor molecules on one surface of the cantilever. Interaction of biomolecules with the immobilized receptors results in cantilever bending. In general, the cantilevers are operated under constant flow of the buffer solution. Since cantilevers are sensitive to fluid flow, the flow rate is kept constant during injection of analytes in the flowing buffer solution. In some cases, reference cantilevers are used to eliminate the effect of fluid flow rate. However, we have observed that the interaction of analytes on receptors on cantilever surface is affected by the variations in the flow rate. More analyte molecules tend to bind the receptors on cantilever surface in static condition when molecular interaction is influenced by diffusion, compared to dynamic condition where analyte molecules flow across the cantilever using a flow control system. This work addresses the issues associated with biomolecular adsorption kinetics, flow rate dependence, and cantilever geometry for increasing the sensor sensitivity.