New nanoscale device can measure mass of single molecule
July 23rd, 2009 - 2:27 pm ICT by ANILondon, July 23 (ANI): For the first time, researchers at California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have used nanoscale devices to develop a technique to determine the mass of a single molecule, in real time.
Traditionally, the mass of molecules is measured using mass spectrometry, in which samples consisting of tens of thousands of molecules are ionized, to produce charged versions of the molecules, or ions.
The ions are then directed into an electric field, where their motion (which is choreographed by both their mass and their charge), allows the determination of their so-called mass-to-charge ratio. From this, their mass can ultimately be ascertained.
The new technique, developed over 10 years of effort by Dr. Michael L. Roukes, at the Caltech and his colleagues, simplifies and miniaturizes the process through the use of very tiny nanoelectromechanical system (NEMS) resonators.
The bridge-like resonators, which are 2 micrometers long and 100 nanometers wide, vibrate at a high frequency and effectively serve as the “scale” of the mass spectrometer.
“The frequency at which the resonator vibrates is directly proportional to its mass,” Nature quoted research physicist Askshay Naik, the first author of a paper, as saying.
Changes in the vibration frequency, then, correspond to changes in mass.
“When a protein lands on the resonator, it causes a decrease in the frequency at which the resonator vibrates and the frequency shift is proportional to the mass of the protein,” said Naik.
The researchers used the instrument to test a sample of the protein bovine serum albumin (BSA), which is known to have a mass of 66 kilodaltons.
The scientists are hopeful that the new technique could enable mass spectra for complicated mixtures to be built up, molecule-by molecule.
Eventually, researchers are planning to create arrays of perhaps hundreds of thousands of the NEMS mass spectrometers, working in parallel, which could determine the masses of hundreds of thousands of molecules “in an instant,” said Naik.
The study has been published in the latest issue of the journal Nature Nanotechnology. (ANI)
- Finding life on Mars could get easier with new tool - Feb 09, 2011
- Advance towards early detection for Alzheimer's and cancer - Sep 09, 2010
- New invention could help in Mars probes' search for life - May 25, 2010
- Digital signal processing technique sheds light on memory and learning - Feb 08, 2011
- New Imaging technique accurately identifies cancer cells - Nov 25, 2010
- 'Artificial noses' come closer to reality - Apr 24, 2009
- Sodium MRI offers new insights into detecting osteoarthritis - Aug 28, 2010
- Scientists solve mystery of world's nitrogen-cycling budget - Oct 18, 2009
- New method to produce native-like spider silk found - Jul 28, 2010
- Scientists edging closer to 'artificial noses' - Apr 24, 2009
- Scientists weigh elusive gold atom with nanoscale - Jul 30, 2008
- New tagging method can track fake goods, explosives - Jan 16, 2012
- Scientists capture 'song' of a distant star - Nov 08, 2010
- Scientists develop MRI for batteries - Feb 13, 2012
- New technique to detect metabolites from a single drop of blood - Jun 19, 2009
Tags: bovine serum albumin, bovine serum albumin bsa, california institute of technology, caltech, dr michael, frequency shift, high frequency, ions, mass spectra, mass spectrometer, mass spectrometers, mass spectrometry, micrometers, mixtures, molecule, nanoscale, nems, research physicist, time researchers, vibration frequency
