Electrical and Mechanical Characteristics of DNA Bundles Revealed by Silicon Nanotweezers

Abstract

This paper deals with the first simultaneous electrical and mechanical characterization of DNA bundles by a MEMS tool. The silicon-based device has an integrated actuator and a differential capacitive position sensor. Our experiments show that under constant humidity conditions, a rope of DNA has a nearly Ohmic conductivity and behaves as a viscoelastic material.