A novel reusable nanomechanics-based protein biosensor with electrical manipulation

A novel reusable biosensor of label-free biomolecular recognition based on the nanomechanics transduction in a micro-fabricated cantilever has been developed. The nanomechanics-based immunoassay biosensor was proven to be repeatedly used with desorption of the pre-bound antigen-antibody by an in-situ alternative electrical field. This new approach of electric manipulation in separating the antigen out of the antibody in a buffer fluid environment was confirmed in nanomechanics-based immunoassay biosensor in which a conventional desorption is long used with high concentrated acid solution in a range of pH 2∼3. The potential benefit of the electrical means over a conventional pre-bound antigen-antibody desorption of strong acid solution is to maintain long-standing protein activity in multiple uses such that the micro biosensor is reliable and reproducible in every detection. The complete sensing history from a monolayer of biolinker, to antibody and antigen is also first demonstrated in nanomechanics-based immunoassay.