Microcantilever apparatus and methods for detection of enzymes

A method for detecting in a sample an associating substance that binds to a substrate, wherein detecting the substance involves at least one microcantilever configured to be responsive to a micro-force, the method comprising:

• depositing a coating material on a first surface of the microcantilever;
• adding at least one substrate to the coating material, the substrate capable of interaction with the substance;
• exposing the microcantilever with the substrate to the sample;
• and
• measuring a resulting free surface energy change on the surface of the microcantilever, wherein the surface energy change indicates binding to the substrate by the associating substance in the sample.

A method of screening for an inhibitor of an enzyme having a substrate on a microcantilever having a coating, the method comprising:

• adding the substrate to a first side of a first and a second microcantilever, the substrate capable of interacting with the enzyme;
• exposing the first microcantilever with the substrate to a sample, the sample containing a candidate inhibitor and the enzyme;
• and
• measuring a deflection of the first microcantilever in comparison to a deflection of a second microcantilever exposed to the enzyme in the absence of the candidate inhibitor.

An apparatus to measure a microforce generated by an interaction between an enzyme and a biomaterial, comprising:

• at least one microcantilever, wherein said microcantilever has a length, a width, and a thickness;
• a coating material deposited on a first surface of the microcantilever;
• a biomaterial capable of attachment to the coating material;
• and at least one interaction well, wherein the microcantilever with coating material and the biomaterial is exposed to a sample, the sample comprising the enzyme.