Nanomechatronics: a toolbox for the small

Abstract: The newest developments in dynamic force microscopy reveal unprecedented molecular   resolution on insulating surfaces. Trapping molecules in nanometer-sized containers on a KBr(001) insulating surface shows for the first time that phthalocyanine-related polar molecules can be confined and studied on a individual bases . This offers fascinating perspective for novel electronic devices on the nanometerscale.  A transition from stick -slip to continuous sliding is observed for atomically modulated friction by means of friction force microscopy resulting in a new regime of ultralow friction in a newly postulated concept “superlubricity”.  Micro-fabricated silicon cantilevers arrays offer a novel label-free approach where ligand-receptor binding interactions occurring on the sensor generate nanomechanical signals like bending or a change in mass that is optically detected in-situ. We report the detection of multiple unlabelled biomolecules simultaneously down to picomolar concentrations within minutes. Differential measurements including reference cantilevers on an array of eight sensors enables sequence-specifically detection of unlabelled DNA and is suitable to detect specific gene fragments within a complete genome (gene fishing). Expression of detection of inducible genes as well as the ultimate challenge:  the detection of total RNA fragments in an unspecific back ground will be shown.   Ligand-receptor binding interactions, such as antigen recognition will be presented. Antibody activated cantilevers with sFv (single chain fragments) which bind to the indicator proteins show a significant improved sensitivity which is comparable with SPR (Surface Plasmon Resonance).  In addition this technology offers a brought variety  of receptor molecules application such as e.g. membrane protein recognition, micro-organism detection, enantiomeric separation. New coating procedures, enlargement of the active surface area by dendritic molecules as well as improvement of the receptor-cantilever chemical bond will be presented. This new findings may lead to a novel individual diagnostic assay in a combined label-free GENOMICs and PROTEOMIC biomarker sensor (COMBIOSENS).

Prof. Christoph Gerber is the Director for scientific communication of the National Center of Competence for Nanoscale Science (NCCR) at the Institute of Physics, University of Basel, Switzerland and is a Research Staff Member emeritus in Nanoscale Science at the IBM Research Laboratory in Rüschlikon, Switzerland .  During the past 25 years, his research was focused on Nanoscale Science.  He is a pioneer in Scanning Probe Microscopy, and made major contributions to the invention of the Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM) and the Atomic Force Microscope (AFM). He is also a co-inventor of Biochemical sensors based on AFM Technology. Prof. Dr. Gerber is the author and co-author of more than one hundred scientific papers that appeared in peer-reviewed journals with more than 12000 citations in crossdisciplinary fields. He belongs to the worldwide one hundred most cited researchers in Physical Sciences. He gave numerous plenary and invited talks at international conferences. His work has been recognized with multiple honorary degrees. He is a fellow of the American Physical Society and a fellow of the IOP Institute of physics of UK .His IP portfolio contains 37 patents  and patent publications. His current interests include Biochemical sensors based on AFM Technology, chemical surface identification on the nanometer scale with AFM, nanomechanics, nanorobotics, and molecular devices at the ultimate limits of measurement and fabrication, Atomic Force microscopy research on insulators, single spin magnetic resonance force microscopy (MRFM), combined scanning SQUID and AFM, self-organization and self-assembly at the nanometer scale.