An innovative JFET bio-transistor, based on a metal oxide (MOX) nanowire bundle, was developed in order to electrically detect biological binding. The working principle of this device relies on modulation of a MOX space charge region (SCR), acting as the channel of a field effect transistor, instead of an enriched/depleted Si channel like in chem.-FETs. The feasibility was at first demonstrated by the development of a bio-sensor made of an SnO2 thin film derivatized with oligodeoxyribonucleotide-probes. We implemented a protocol to immobilize single strands of nucleic acid over SnO2 and developed a system for electrical sensing of hybridization in liquid solution. The same protocol was then applied on a SnO2 nanowire bundle, synthesized by thermal evaporation of oxide powders under controlled conditions with the presence of Pt catalyst. The results obtained on a group of nanowires suggest the possibility - now under development - to produce nano-bio-transistors based on single nanowires of metal oxides.
SnO2 nanowire bio-transistor for electrical DNA sensing
NANNINI, ANDREA;PENNELLI, GIOVANNI;Piotto M.
2007-01-01
Abstract
An innovative JFET bio-transistor, based on a metal oxide (MOX) nanowire bundle, was developed in order to electrically detect biological binding. The working principle of this device relies on modulation of a MOX space charge region (SCR), acting as the channel of a field effect transistor, instead of an enriched/depleted Si channel like in chem.-FETs. The feasibility was at first demonstrated by the development of a bio-sensor made of an SnO2 thin film derivatized with oligodeoxyribonucleotide-probes. We implemented a protocol to immobilize single strands of nucleic acid over SnO2 and developed a system for electrical sensing of hybridization in liquid solution. The same protocol was then applied on a SnO2 nanowire bundle, synthesized by thermal evaporation of oxide powders under controlled conditions with the presence of Pt catalyst. The results obtained on a group of nanowires suggest the possibility - now under development - to produce nano-bio-transistors based on single nanowires of metal oxides.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.