Patent ID: 8512947

Claim:
A method comprising: immobilizing a probe material to a non-piezoelectric layer surface of a sensor, wherein the probe material is bindable to a target nucleic acid, the sensor comprising: a piezoelectric layer comprising a proximate end and a distal end; a base portion coupled to the proximate end of the piezoelectric layer; the non-piezoelectric layer, wherein: at least a portion of the piezoelectric layer is coupled to at least a portion of the non-piezoelectric layer such that the piezoelectric layer and the non-piezoelectric layer are not coextensive; and the base portion is not attached to the non-piezoelectric layer; and electrodes operatively associated with the piezoelectric layer for measuring resonance frequency of the sensor; measuring, via the electrodes, a first resonance frequency of the sensor; exposing the sensor surface, having the probe material immobilized thereon, to the target nucleic acid; measuring, via the electrodes, a second resonance frequency of the sensor, wherein the first resonance frequency is measured prior to the exposing and the second resonance frequency is measured subsequent to the exposing; determining, via a comparison of the first resonance frequency and the second resonance frequency, an amount of total mass sensed by the sensor via the exposure; and determining a portion of the total mass attributable to the target nucleic acid.