13 Nanomechanical Cantilever Biosensors: Conceptual Design, Recent Developments, and Practical Implementation Available to Purchase

Micro∕nanocantilever-based sensors have recently emerged as an effective means for label-free chemical and biological species detection. Selectivity, low cost, and easy mass production make them an enabling technology for micro-detection and nanodetection techniques. These sensors operate through the adsorption of species on the functionalized surface of cantilevers. Through this functionalization, molecular recognition is directly transduced into a micromechanical response. This chapter presents a brief overview of microcantilever-based biosensors fabrication, the underlying principles of operation, modeling frameworks, techniques of microcantilever actuation, common materials used in fabrication of these sensors, and biological species detection techniques. More specifically, a detailed description of different operational modes of microcantilever biosensors is presented, followed by a set of comprehensive mathematical modeling frameworks. The chapter concludes with clinical applications of this type of biosensor, along with a review of recent developments and representative practical examples.