(180e) Friction As a Means of Detecting Biomolecules with Ultrahigh Sensitivity and Specificity

Friction
as a Means of Detecting Biomolecules with Ultrahigh Sensitivity and Specificity

Bakdaulet Isakhov,
W T. Godbey and Noshir Pesika

Chemical and
Biomolecular Engineering, Tulane University

Abstract

The detection of
biomolecules has experienced unprecedented growth in the recent years partly
driven by the need for point of care systems for clinical applications.
Specifically, there is a need for high-sensitivity detectors for biomolecules
such as proteins including antibodies and/or antigens. In this project, we propose to explore
friction as a means of detecting the presence and concentration of a
biomolecule on a surface. Atomic force
microscopy (AFM) operating under friction force (or lateral force) mode will be
used to detect the presence of an antigen on a substrate modified with a
specific antibody. We expect different
friction forces when the antigen is present at various concentrations compared
to when it is absent, thus allowing for disease detection.