Step	Purpose	Solute	Solvent	Typical ratio or concentration
Silanization	Create amino groups on cantilever surface	APTES (3-Aminopropyl) tri-ethoxysilane (e.g., Vectabond™)	dry acetone	1:50 (v/v) – 1:100 (v/v)
PEGylation	Provide cantilever surface with amino or thiol reactive groups	NHS-PEG-NHS or Mal-PEG-NHS	dry chloroform	0.25–25 mM
PEGylation	Passivate cantilever surface	methyl-PEG-NHS	dry chloroform	25 mM
Conjugation of probe molecule	Couple probe molecule via an amino or thiol group to bi-functional PEG	probe molecule (polymer, lipid, etc.)	dry chloroform or borate buffer	0.1–10 mM