Silicon microcantilever based biochemical surface stress sensors

R. Raiteri^1,2, S. Martinoia¹, M. Grattarola¹, H.-J. Butt²

We show that the bending-plate method with microfabricated cantilevers can be used to transduce the binding of a biological substance to a receptor into a signal. This could be the basis for a new class of biosensors. To demonstrate the feasibility of the method we coated cantilevers with the herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Then we measured the cantilever deflection while continuously rinsing with a solution containing the monoclonal antibody. In this way, we monitored changes in the surface stress of the cantilever due to the binding of the antibody.