Title :
Silicon nanotweezers: A new biophysical tool for molecular experimentation
Author :
Yamahata, C. ; Collard, D. ; Domenget, A. ; Hosogi, M. ; Kumemura, M. ; Hashiguchi, G. ; Fujita, H.
Author_Institution :
Univ. of Tokyo, Tokyo
Abstract :
We describe a MEMS-based method for the biomechanical characterization of filamentary molecules. The system consists of a pair of electrostatically actuated silicon nanotweezers and a differential capacitive sensor that is connected to the moving tip of the tweezers. With such a tool, we achieved sub-nanometer displacement resolution (around 0.2 nm), detected the trapping of DNA nanowires and measured the evolution of their biomechanical characteristics through the shift of the resonant frequency.
Keywords :
bioMEMS; capacitive sensors; DNA nanowires; MEMS based method; biomechanical characterization; biophysical tool; differential capacitive sensor; displacement resolution; filamentary molecules; molecular experimentation; resonant frequency; silicon nanotweezers; Capacitive sensors; DNA; Electric variables measurement; Electrodes; Electrostatic measurements; Force sensors; Micromechanical devices; Optical amplifiers; Performance evaluation; Silicon;
Conference_Titel :
Micro Electro Mechanical Systems, 2008. MEMS 2008. IEEE 21st International Conference on
Conference_Location :
Tucson, AZ
Print_ISBN :
978-1-4244-1792-6
Electronic_ISBN :
1084-6999
DOI :
10.1109/MEMSYS.2008.4443748
