Molecular nanoshearing: an innovative approach to shear off molecules with AC-induced nanoscopic fluid flow.

ABSTRACT: Early diagnosis of disease requires highly specific measurement of molecular biomarkers from femto to pico-molar concentrations in complex biological (e.g., serum, blood, etc.) samples to provide clinically useful information. While reaching this detection limit is challenging in itself, these samples contain numerous other non-target molecules, most of which have a tendency to adhere to solid surfaces via nonspecific interactions. Herein, we present an entirely new methodology to physically displace nonspecifically bound molecules from solid surfaces by utilizing a newly discovered "tuneable force", induced by an applied alternating electric field, which occurs within few nanometers of an electrode surface. This methodology thus offers a unique ability to shear-off loosely bound molecules

SUBMITTER: Shiddiky MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3893656 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature