Abstract: A microcantilever sensor for targeted analyte detection can generally comprise a microcantilever having a base and a beam, a metallic coating disposed substantially only on a first surface of a distal-most end of the beam, and a receptor compound immobilized to the metallic coating wherein the receptor compound can have substantially exclusive binding interaction with the analyte. The receptor compound can be a thiol-terminated bifunctional compound having a receptor site with specific binding affinity for the analyte, for example, an isolated Fab? fragment. The metallic coating can be a noble metal and/or a semi-noble metal, such as a bilayer of chromium and gold. The metallic coating can be applied to the microcantilever surface by electron-beam lithography.