Investigation on Conformation Transition of Macromolecules using Microcantilever Sensing
微梁传感研究大分子构象转变

Macromolecules were grafted on one surface of a microcantilever by surface modification technique. The deflections of the microcantilever induced by the conformation transition of the macromolecules were detected using an optical lever method. The experimental result shows that the surface stress of the microcantilever changed during the conformation transition of the macromolecules, and as a consequence, the microcantilever deflected. Morever, for different macromolecules, the changes of surface stress were originated from different mechanisms. The analysis indicates that hydrogen bonding, electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions play important roles in the conformation transition process of PNIPAM, PAA and trypsin, and the changes of surface stress. The most prominent advantage of this microcantilever sensing technique is that it could detect the interaction among macromolecules and thus provides a new experimental means for understanding the conformation transition process of macromolecules at a microscopic level.