Mechanics and transport at nanoscale: towards new sensor technology

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A string on a musical instrument vibrates at a characteristic pitch, or resonance frequency, when plucked; adding weight to the string (or choosing a thicker string) allows shift to a lower frequency. Nanoresonators - strings or rods of diameter below a thousandth of a millimetre, show a measurable change in resonance frequency with added weight as small as that of a few biomolecules. Biosensing for disease states such as cancer, acute inflammation and neurodegeneration in aging will greatly benefit from this extraordinary sensitivity of nanoresonators, which will enable early detection or sensitive treatment-monitoring. These would lead to better outcomes for patients and to reduced healthcare costs. The proposed studies of mechanical properties of materials and of air damping forces for nanoresonators in a rarefied environment, will aid biosensor design and will contribute fundamental knowledge in materials and fluid science, with broad applicability.