A Label-Free Diamond Microfluidic DNA Sensor Based on Active Nitrogen-Vacancy Center Charge State Control

Abstract

We propose a label-free biosensor concept based on the charge state manipulation of nitrogen-vacancy (NV) quantum color centers in diamond, combined with an electrochemical microfluidic flow cell sensor, constructed on boron-doped diamond. This device can be set at a defined electrochemical potential, locking onto the particular chemical reaction, whilst the NV center provides the sensing function. The NV charge state occupation is initially prepared by applying a bias voltage on a gate electrode and then subsequently altered by exposure to detected charged molecules. We demonstrate the functionality of the device by performing label-free optical detection of DNA molecules. In this experiment, a monolayer of strongly cationic charged polymer polyethylenimine is used to shift the charge state of near surface NV centers from negatively charged NV^- to neutral NV⁰ or dark positively charged NV⁺. Immobilization of negatively charged DNA molecules on the surface of the sensor restores the NV centers charge state back to the negatively charged NV^-, which is detected using confocal photoluminescence microscopy. Biochemical reactions in the microfluidic channel are characterized by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The use of the developed electrochemical device can also be extended to nuclear magnetic resonance spin sensing.

Keywords: DNA chip; biosensor; diamond; microfluidic; nitrogen-vacancy center.