AVS 53rd International Symposium
    MEMS and NEMS Tuesday Sessions
       Session MN-TuP

Paper MN-TuP3
Detection of Stimulated Proteins in KDR/VEGF-A165 System by Microcantilever Sensor

Tuesday, November 14, 2006, 6:00 pm, Room 3rd Floor Lobby

Session: Aspects of MEMS and NEMS Poster Session
Presenter: B.S. Bianco, Politecnico di Torino, Italy
Authors: F.S. Fiorilli, Politecnico di Torino, Italy
R.C. Ricciardi, Politecnico di Torino, Italy
P.R. Rivolo, Politecnico di Torino, Italy
M.S. Marasso, Politecnico di Torino, Italy
B.S. Bianco, Politecnico di Torino, Italy
N.L. Napione, Universit@aa a@ degli Studi di Torino, Italy
B.F. Bussolino, Universit@aa a@ degli Studi di Torino, Italy
Correspondent: Click to Email
To reach new and relevant insight in biomolecular sciences it is necessary to develop new tools for fine and precise measurements. To this purpose, microcantilevers-based biosensors, which can trasduce a biochemical signal into a mechanical motion with extremely high sensitivity, represent an intriguing possibility.@footnote 1@ In particular, microcantilevers biosensors may represent a great improvement of the current detection techniques in regard of "signaling transduction pathways", which allow cells to respond to external stimuli. This contribution deals with the development of cantilever biosensors to measure in a quantitative and specific way key molecules involved in the activated tyrosine kinase receptor KDR in vascular endothelial cells (EC) stimulated by its ligand vascular endothelial growth factor-A165 (VEGF-A165). KDR/VEGF-A165 system is at the heart of a network that governs differentiation, survival, proliferation and migration of EC.@footnote 2@ The basis of these measurements is the antigen-antibody reaction. The cantilevers has been coated with Protein A or G, which specifically bind to the Fc fragment of the antibody, allowing the correct orientation of the Fab fragment, responsible for the antigen interaction. The coated surface will be bound to specific antibodies and hybridized with VEGF-A165 stimulated cellular lysates. The resonant frequancy response of cantilever to binding event permits to obtain data about protein analyte concentration. @FootnoteText@@footnote 1@Fritz.J., Baller M.K. Lang H.P., Rothuizen H., Vettinger P., Meyer E. Gerber C., Gimzewski, Science, 2000, 288, 316, @footnote 2@Zachary I., Gliki G., Cardiovasc Res, 2001, 49: 568-581.