A biofunctionalized nanoelectromechanical device (BioNEWS) for sensing single-molecules in solution by measuring the variation in the mechanical displacement of the BioNEWS device during a binding event is provided. The biofunctionalized nanoelctromechanical device according to the invention generally comprises a nanomechanical device according to the invention generally comprises a nanomechanical mechanical resonator, a detector integral with the mechanical resonator for measuring the machanical displacement of the resonator, and electronics connected to the detector for communicating the results to a user. A system of biofunctionalzed nanoelectromechanical devices and a method for utilizing the biofunctionalized nanelectromechanical device of the present invention are also provided.