Figure 2. Label-free real time detection of cancer cells using peptide-functionalized cantilever array.

(a) Real time detection of MCF7 human breast cancer cells mimicking the circulating tumor cells at 25 ± 5 cells mL^–1 using peptide-functionalized cantilever array. Cantilevers were functionalized with four different peptides, two cancer-targeting peptides (18-4 and RGD) and two non-specific reference peptides (ref. ¹ and ref. 2). (b) Capture yield of cancer cells corresponding to each peptide sensor. Each cantilever differential deflection represents an average calculation of eight replicates and error bars indicate standard deviations, *P < 0.05.