Heriot-Watt: Low-cost method for fabricating microcantilever sensors for diagnostics

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While microcantilever sensors have great potential for use in sensitive, selective, label-free detection of biological and chemical molecules, including proteins, DNA, cells, drugs, and environmental contaminants, their use is limited because of the high cost, multi-step, silicon-based manufacturing processes, and the accompanying high-cost and complex processes for functionalising for detecting different types of molecule.

Now engineers at Heriot-Watt University in Scotland have developed a rapid, one-step, low-cost fabrication process for production of pre-functionalised polymer-based microcantilevers. This will underpin the development of affordable, disposable microcantilever devices for use in a wide range of detection and diagnostic applications.

The fabrication method can be used with virtually any biological or chemical entity, including antibodies, enzymes, catalysts, sugars or peptide moieties, and can therefore produce cantilever sensors capable of detecting a broad range of agents.

The method can also generate multiplexed sensor arrays, allowing detection of multiple agents on the same platform. In addition, it is possible to embed electronic circuits into the microcantilevers, allowing direct translation of binding into a read-out signal.

The fabrication method has been successfully demonstrated in machine labs at Heriot-Watt University, and can be applied in an industrial setting with minimal modifications.

A UK patent has been filed (priority date May 2009) protecting the fabrication method and its application to the production of pre-functionalised cantilevers.