Cantilever-based transducer for molecules configuration research

Microfabricated cantilevers have recently become increasingly popular as transducers in chemical and biological sensors. Here, an evaluation of laboratory prototype that is microcantilever-based optical detection is demonstrated. Surface stress changes when molecules adsorb on cantilevers surface, which offers an attractive way to chemical and biological detection by measuring the bending of cantilevers. In this work, different figures of cantilevers were fabricated. Preliminary evaluation of these microfabricated cantilevers was performed by comparing the intensity of reflecting light on the end surfaces of different cantilever figures and the stability of different cantilever figures in liquid. The result demonstrated that triangle cantilever with paddle acting as a flat mirror has better performance of light reflecting and stability in liquid. Then, cantilevers-based sensors were used to detect the conformational changes in PNFPAM molecules with temperature changing.