The present invention relates generally to sensing systems, and in particular to microcantilever sensing systems. The present invention may be used for various cantilever sensing applications, including physical, chemical, and biological sensing.
Micro- or nano-cantilevers have been used as sensors, for example as physical, chemical, and biological sensors. As commonly understood, and as used herein, the term cantilever refers to a structure that is fixed at one end and free at the other.
Some existing cantilever sensors are based on the principle that a change in surface stress, produced by interaction with the environment, results in a deflection of the free end of the cantilever. Such deflection of the free end of the cantilever results in rotation of portions of the surface of the cantilever.
The deflection and rotation of the cantilever may be measured by a number of different approaches. One method is referred to as the Optical Beam Deflection Method (OBDM). In this method, a laser beam is reflected off the cantilever, and the cantilever deflection/rotation is measured by movement of the reflected laser beam. Commonly, the incident laser beam is directed at the portion of the cantilever where the deflection/rotation is at a maximum (i.e: toward the free end of the cantilever). In various systems, the deflection/rotation of the cantilever is determined by detecting a change in position of the reflected beam (from a first cantilever) with respect to the position of the reflected beam from a control (i.e. second) cantilever. The reflected beam may be detected using, for example, a position sensitive detector (PSD) or a charge coupled device (CCD) camera.
An example of such an existing optical beam deflection detection is seen in
Microcantilevers have been used to sense biomolecular interactions, as follows. In order to identify particular biological molecules, a probe molecule is disposed on the microcantilever, wherein the probe molecule interacts with the particular biological molecule to be detected. For example, in order to detect particular DNA material, a short single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) sequence may be used as a probe molecule for a complimentary ssDNA. Similarly, in order to detect a particular antigen, an appropriate antibody may used as a probe molecule.
The presence of the particular biological molecule (i.e.: the “target molecule”) may be detected by first functionalizing a surface of the cantilever using an appropriate probe molecule (i.e.: attaching probe molecules to the surface of the cantilever), and then detecting a resulting physical change in the cantilever. When a target molecule binds to one of the probe molecules on the surface of the cantilever, the cantilever bends due to a change in its surface stress. Determining the amount by which the cantilever bends provides a measure of the concentration of the molecule to be detected.
The present invention provides a system for amplifying optical detection of cantilever deflection. In a preferred embodiment, a reflective membrane is attached to the cantilever such that the reflective membrane rotates more than the cantilever when the cantilever deflects. In preferred embodiments, an incident beam is reflected off of the reflective membrane (instead of the cantilever). Since the reflective membrane rotates more than the cantilever, a larger deflection of the beam is detected.
In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a sensor system, having: a cantilever having a first end and a second end, the first end being held at a first fixed location and the second end being free to move; and a reflective membrane having a first end and a second end, the first end being held at a second fixed location and the second end being attached to the cantilever.
In optional preferred embodiments, the cantilever is attached directly to a wall and the reflective membrane is attached to a substrate that is in turn attached to the wall.
The details of one or more implementations are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.
Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.
The present invention provides a system for amplifying micro- or nano-cantilever deflection for optical detection. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may also be used to amplify deflections of various membrane sensors.
A preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated, first end 21 of reflective membrane 20 is attached to a stationary substrate 8. As is seen in
In operation, a beam of laser light from laser 12 is reflected from reflecting membrane 20 towards detector array 14. Prior to cantilever deflection, as shown in
As can be seen in
Therefore, deflection of cantilever 10 causes rotation of the reflective membrane 20. Advantageously, the angle to which reflective membrane 20 rotates is greater than the angle to which the portion of cantilever 10 to which second end 23 of reflective membrane 20 is attached rotates. As can be seen in both
Thus, the angle of rotation of reflective membrane 20 is greater than the angle of rotation of second end 13 of the cantilever when cantilever 10 deflects. This is particularly advantageous in optical detection since the difference in the angle between light paths “A” and “B” in
In preferred embodiments, reflective membrane 20 may comprise a thin flexible membrane that may optionally be made out of Parylene, but is not so limited. In various embodiments, reflective membrane 20 may comprise a membrane with a layer of reflective material coated or deposited thereon. Alternatively, reflective membrane 20 may comprise a membrane with a panel of reflective material attached thereto. Thus, reflective membrane 20 may have a first portion that is reflective, and a second portion that is not reflective.
Cantilever 10 may be deflected by any of a variety of methods, including, but not limited to mechanical, chemical, electrical and magnetic systems. In one exemplary embodiment, cantilever 10 has probe molecules or cells disposed thereon, and cantilever 10 deflects in response to surface stress changes caused by target molecules or cells interacting with such probe molecules or cells. Specifically, when a target material interacts with one or more of the probe molecules, the surface stress of cantilever 10 changes, causing cantilever 10 to deflect. The target molecules or cells may be exposed to cantilever 10 by a sample fluid or gas surrounding cantilever 10.
The present invention also includes a method of sensing cantilever deflection, by directing a beam of incident light towards reflective membrane 20, wherein first end 21 of reflective membrane 20 is held at a fixed location and second end 23 of reflective membrane 20 is attached to cantilever 20; deflecting cantilever 20; and detecting movement of a beam of light reflected by reflective membrane 20.
In a preferred aspect of this method, detecting the movement of the beam of light reflected by the reflective membrane 20 corresponds to determining target molecule or cell concentration.
Various preferred geometries for the present invention will now be set forth. Table 1 below shows the nomenclature used herein.
Referring to
L2 is less than L1. However, the magnitude of the deflection of second end 23 of membrane 20 is about the same as the magnitude of the deflection of second end 13 of cantilever 10. Therefore, the reflective membrane 20 rotation, denoted by θ2, is greater than the cantilever 10 rotation θ1.
Since membrane 20 need not be configured to interact with its environment (e.g., to sense physical, biological, or chemical materials or interactions), its properties may be chosen to enhance rotation θ2, and thus to increase the change in position of the reflected beam upon cantilever deflection. Therefore, the present sensor system provides enhanced optical sensitivity over existing sensors.
The reflective membrane rotation θ2 may be determined by first analyzing the cantilever deflection without a membrane (see
Equations 1, 2, and 3 below outline the relationship between the curvature (K), deflection (δ1), and rotation (θ1) of the cantilever tip 13 (without the reflective membrane 20 structure attached thereto), due to the induced surface stresses (γ).
The deflection of the cantilever tip 13 with the reflective membrane structure 20 attached thereto is determined using the superposition principle.
In
Tensile force F in the reflective membrane due to this strain is given by Equation (6) below. This tensile force can be resolved into normal and tangential forces FX and FY, which are given by Equations (7) and (8). The free body diagram of the composite structure is shown in
The deflection 62 and rotation θ2 of the reflective membrane are related as shown in Equation (9) below. The deflection of the cantilever δC due to the force FY is given by Equation (10). The vertical force FY tries to bend the suspended cantilever in a direction opposite to δ1 (see
The geometrical constraint on the system requires that the reflective membrane deflection δ2 and cantilever deflection δ1′ are the same and given by Equation (12) below:
The reflective membrane rotation θ2 can be obtained by solving Equation (12).
In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, the microcantilever and micromembrane has reaction surfaces that are configured for any or all of: molecule to molecule, molecule to cell, cell to molecule and cell to cell bonding.
Specifically, in accordance with the present invention, the sensor (i.e. the cantilever or membrane) is not only configured not only for target-to-probe “molecule-to-molecule” bonding (in which bonding interactions occur between target molecules in a fluid or gas sample and probe molecules on the cantilever/membrane). Instead, the present cantilever (or membrane) is configured to be functionalized with either of “probe molecules” or “probe cells” attached thereto. Similarly, “target molecules” or “target cells” (in the fluid or gas sample) bond with the probe molecules or cells (on the cantilever/membrane). The resulting cantilever or membrane deflection is preferably detected so as to provide an indication of the reaction between the probe substance (which may be molecules or cells, or both) on the cantilever/membrane, and the target substance (which may be molecules or cells, or both) in the fluid or gas surrounding the cantilever/membrane. In accordance with the present invention, the probe substance is attached (i.e. functionalized) to the cantilever/membrane need not be a molecule. Rather, it may be either a molecule or a cell (or combinations of both). Moreover, in accordance with the present invention, the (target) substance need not be a molecule. Rather, it may be either a molecule or a cell (or combinations of both).
Thus, the present invention includes any or all of the following combinations of reactions:
It is to be understood that the presently claimed probe/target “molecules” and “cells” are not limited to any particular “molecule” or “cell” per se. Rather, the present invention encompasses all inter-reactions found between or among various molecules and cells.
A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the geometric and physical properties of the structure may be different. Different cantilever materials, membrane materials, lengths, widths, thicknesses, etc. may be used. Different fabrication processes may be used. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.
The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/571,484, (attorney Docket number 028726-036), entitled Microcantilever And Micromembrane Systems Having Reaction Surfaces Configured For Molecule To Molecule, Molecule To Cell, Cell To Molecule And Cell To Cell Bonding, filed May 13, 2004.
This invention was made with Government support under Grant (Contract) No. R21 CA86132-01 awarded by the National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute and Contract No. DE-FG03-98ER14870 awarded by the United States Department of Energy. The Government has certain rights in this invention.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60571484 | May 2004 | US |