Field-Effect Transistor Biosensors for Biomedical Applications: Recent Advances and Future Prospects

Abstract

During recent years, field-effect transistor biosensors (Bio-FET) for biomedical applications have experienced a robust development with evolutions in FET characteristics as well as modification of bio-receptor structures. This review initially provides contemplation on this progress by briefly summarizing remarkable studies on two aforementioned aspects. The former includes fabricating unprecedented nanostructures and employing novel materials for FET transducers whereas the latter primarily synthesizes compact molecules as bio-probes (antibody fragments and aptamers). Afterwards, a future perspective on research of FET-biosensors is also predicted depending on current situations as well as its great demand in clinical trials of disease diagnosis. From these points of view, FET-biosensors with infinite advantages are expected to continuously advance as one of the most promising tools for biomedical applications.

Keywords: FET biosensor; antibody; aptamer; biomedical application; field-effect transistor; nanotransducer.

Figure 1

Fabrication of nanopore-extended field-effect transistor (nexFET) in dual-barrel quartz nanopipettes by depositing pyrolytic carbon in one of the barrels before electrodeposition of polypyrrole (PPy) at the carbon-coated nanopipette tip [65].

Figure 2

Indium-tin oxide nanowires (ITO-NW) FETs were fabricated by (A) coating indium and tin film onto gold film and (B) defining pattern of the devices by E-beam lithography before (C) treating them with controlled parameters in tubular furnace to (D) form ITO nanowires [66]. Reprinted from Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 105, Shariati, The Field Effect Transistor DNA Biosensor Based on ITO Nanowires in Label-Free Hepatitis B Virus Detecting Compatible with CMOS Technology, 58–64, Copyright 2018, with permission from Elsevier.

Figure 3

Fabrication process of ZnO-FET biosensors by the nozzle-jet printing method [67]. Reprinted from Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 506, Bhat et al., Nozzle-Jet Printed Flexible Field-Effect Transistor Biosensor for High Performance Glucose Detection, 188–196, Copyright 2017, with permission from Elsevier Elsevier.

Figure 4

Fabrication process of ZnO-FET biosensors by the radio-frequency magnetron-sputtering method [69]. Reprinted from Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 498, Ahmad et al., ZnO Nanorods Array Based Field-Effect Transistor Biosensor for Phosphate Detection, 292–297, Copyright 2017, with permission from Elsevier.

Figure 5

Schematic model of the AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) with the active channel and gate electrode, which is functionalized with receptors, are passivated separately. Only these two components of this FET biosensor are exposed to the analytes [74].

Figure 6

Fabrication of black phosphorus (BP)-FET biosensors with passivation of the Al₂O₃ dielectric layer on the surface of exfoliated BP nanosheets to prevent them from being oxidized prior to surface modification of Au nanoparticles and probe immobilization of Anti-Immunoglobulin G (Anti-IgG) [81]. Reprinted from Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 89, Chen et al., Field-Effect Transistor Biosensors with Two-Dimensional Black Phosphorus Nanosheets, 505–510, Copyright 2017, with permission from Elsevier.

Figure 7

Integration of a custom-made microfilter to platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs)-decorated reduced graphene oxide (rGO) FET biosensors [88]. Reprinted from Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 91, Lei et al., Detection of Heart Failure-Related Biomarker in Whole Blood with Graphene Field Effect Transistor Biosensor, 1–7, Copyright 2017, with permission from Elsevier.

Figure 8

Surface modification of silicon nanowire surface with mixed-SAMs constituting of APTES and PEG-silane [109]. Reprinted with permission from Nano Letters, 15, Gao et al., General Strategy for Biodetection in High Ionic Strength Solutions Using Transistor-Based Nanoelectronic Sensors, 2143–2148. Copyright 2015 American Chemical Society.

Figure 9

Surface modification of the CNT network surface with mixed-SAMs constituting of PBA and mPEG-pyrene [107]. Reprinted from Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 255, Filipiak et al., Highly Sensitive, Selective and Label-Free Protein Detection in Physiological Solutions Using Carbon Nanotube Transistors with Nanobody Receptors, 1507–1516, Copyright 2018, with permission from Elsevier.