Over the last couple of decades, the advancement in Microelectromechanical System (MEMS) devices is highly demanded for integrating the economically miniaturized sensors with fabricating technology. A sensor is a system that detects and responds to multiple physical inputs and converting them into analogue or digital forms. The sensor transforms these variations into a form which can be utilized as a marker to monitor the device variable. MEMS exhibits excellent feasibility in miniaturization sensors due to its small dimension, low power consumption, superior performance, and, batch-fabrication. This article presents the recent developments in standard actuation and sensing mechanisms that can serve MEMS-based devices, which is expected to revolutionize almost many product categories in the current era. The featured principles of actuating, sensing mechanisms and real-life applications have also been discussed. Proper understanding of the actuating and sensing mechanisms for the MEMS-based devices can play a vital role in effective selection for novel and complex application design.

Exhaled breath acetone has been identified as a diabetes biomarker for non-invasive diagnosis. Its detection using biosensors features has many advantages over the conventional means. This paper reviews the recent literature on the detection of exhaled breath acetone and acetone vapor of diabetic interest. The biosensors have been classified based on their transduction methods. The performance characteristics of the biosensors have been explored for comparison. The future trends are also highlighted.

No abstract

Field effect-based biosensors (BioFETs) stand out among other biosensing technologies due to their unique features such as real time screening, ultrasensitive detection, low cost, and amenability to extreme device miniaturization due to the convenient utilization of nanoscale materials. Nanodevices pave the way for the detection of tiny biomolecules and minute concentrations of analytes as they are ultrasensitive to surface charge modulation, allowing for better point-of-care screening of various life-threatening infectious diseases. Semiconducting carbon nanotubes (sc-CNTs) are exceptionally promising for FET-channel integration to replace bulky silicon technology beyond the dimensions of the short channel effects for their 1D ultrathin structure, superior electronic features, and biocompatibility. However, performance of CNTFET biosensors is influenced by the inhomogeneous interface between sc-CNTs and metallic source and drain electrodes. This article reviews recent studies on CNTFET biosensors, morphology of these devices and the cause-and-effect of the interface issues between sc-CNTs and metallic electrodes. Finally, future outlook on suggested technology to improve the performance of such CNTFET devices is presented. INDEX TERMS BioFETs, biomolecules, biosensors, carbon nanotubes, contact resistance, metal electrodes.

No abstract