Scalable production of high sensitivity, label-free DNA biosensors based on back-gated graphene field-effect transistors

TL;DR

This paper presents a scalable, reproducible method for fabricating high-sensitivity, label-free DNA biosensors using graphene field-effect transistors, capable of detecting very low DNA concentrations with high specificity.

Contribution

Developed a scalable, highly reproducible fabrication process for graphene-based DNA biosensors with high sensitivity and selectivity, enabling rapid and inexpensive DNA detection.

Findings

Detection limit of 1 fM for 60-mer DNA oligonucleotide

High reproducibility (>90% yield) in biosensor fabrication

Confirmed impact of mismatch position on hybridization strength

Abstract

Scalable production of all-electronic DNA biosensors with high sensitivity and selectivity is a critical enabling step for research and applications associated with detection of DNA hybridization. We have developed a scalable and very reproducible (> 90% yield) fabrication process for label-free DNA biosensors based upon graphene field effect transistors (GFETs) functionalized with single-stranded probe DNA. The shift of the GFET sensor Dirac point voltage varied systematically with the concentration of target DNA. The biosensors demonstrated a broad analytical range and limit of detection of 1 fM for 60-mer DNA oligonucleotide. In control experiments with mismatched DNA oligomers, the impact of the mismatch position on the DNA hybridization strength was confirmed. This class of highly sensitive DNA biosensors offers the prospect of detection of DNA hybridization and sequencing in a rapid, inexpensive, and accurate way.