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Abstract
In this paper, we show that closed-loop control can be advantageously used for the characterization of mechanical properties of biomolecules using silicon nanotweezers (SNT). SNT have already been used in open-loop mode for the characterization of mechanical properties of DNA molecules. Up to now, such an approach allows the detection of stiffness variations equivalent to about 15 DNA molecules. Here, it is shown that this resolution is inversely proportional to the resonance frequency of the whole system and that real-time feedback control with state observer can drastically improve the performances of the tweezers used as biosensors. Such improvement is experimentally validated in the case of the manipulation of fibronectin molecules. The results are promising for the accurate characterization of biopolymers such as DNA molecules.
Highlights
ECENT developments in micronano manipulation tools have revealed crucial information on the mechanical behavior of biomolecules [1]–[3]
The motion of the mobile electrode is measured by capacitances whose value linearly varies with electrode displacement; two variable capacitances are mounted in differential mode [21]
The dashed-line curve is the reference curve, which corresponds to the frequency response of the silicon nanotweezers (SNT) alone driven in open loop
Summary
ECENT developments in micronano manipulation tools have revealed crucial information on the mechanical behavior of biomolecules [1]–[3] These manipulations generally performed on a single molecule have given the quantitative data needed to elucidate fundamental biological processes as DNA wrapping [4] and replication [5], or cell cytoskeleton dynamics through actin filament [6], and microtubule mechanical responses [7]. The real-time operation and the routine implementation of these techniques remain difficult to achieve, as they require complex experimental procedures In this respect, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) offer an advantage for systematic analysis since accurate molecular level tools (actuator, end effectors, and sensor) can be integrated on a MEMS platform. Up to now, the performances of such tools are not sufficient to deal with single molecule characterization
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