Effect of Surface Conjugation Chemistry on the Sensitivity of Microcantilever Sensors

Microcantilever sensors are an offshoot of atomic force microscopy and are useful tools for effectively detecting a target biomolecule. The recognition of the target molecule on the biosensor is based on the physical bending of the microcantilever, which is driven by a specific molecular interaction between the target molecule and the sensor surface. In this study, to enhance the sensitivity of the microcantilever sensor, the sensor surface was modified through a surface conjugation method using self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) and heterobifunctional cross-linkers. After the surface modification of the microcantilever sensor, the sensitivity for L-cysteine was recorded. The detection of L-cysteine was influenced by the active site and the molecular size of the cross-linked compound attached onto the surface of the microcantilever. SCANNING 29: 245–248, 2007. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.