Silicon nanowire field-effect transistor-based biosensors for biomedical diagnosis and cellular recording investigation
Chen, K-I, Li B-R, Chen Y-T.
Nano Today. 6:131-154. (2011)
Silicon nanowire field-effect transistors (SiNW-FETs) have recently drawn tremen-dous attention as a promising tool in biosensor design because of their ultrasensitivity,
selectivity, and label-free and real-time detection capabilities. Here, we review the recently published literature that describes the device fabrication and biomedical applications of SiNW-FET sensors. For practical uses, SiNW-FETs can be delicately designed to be a reusable device via a reversible surface functionalizationmethod. In the fields of biological research, SiNW-FETs are employed in the detections of proteins, DNA sequences, small molecules, cancer biomarkers, and viruses. The methods by which the SiNW-FET devices were integrated with these repre-sentative examples and advanced to virus infection diagnosis or early cancer detection will be discussed. In addition, the utilization of SiNW-FETs in recording the physiological responses from cells or tissues will also be reviewed. Finally, the novel design of a three dimensional (3D) nano-FET probe with kinked SiNWs for recording intracellular signals will be highlighted in this review.
Institute of Atomic and Molecular Sciences Academia Sinica
