Robust Microfluidic Integrated Electrolyte‐Gated Organic Field‐Effect Transistor Sensors for Rapid, In Situ and Label‐Free Monitoring of DNA Hybridization

Abstract

Electrolyte‐gated organic field‐effect transistors (EGOFETs) are subject to intense research for biosensing in fluids. The ability of these devices to quantify a variety of chemical and biological molecules sensitively and selectively, but ex situ, has been widely demonstrated. However, continuous monitoring of analyte‐receptor interactions in real time by EGOFETs, in high demand for practical applications, has rarely been explored. Here, an EGOFET array integrated with a microfluidic device, for real‐time detection of the hybridization of DNA is presented. The integrated devices exhibit highly reproducible electrical performance in the array and can operate under different electrical stresses over >1 h with 85–96% figures of merit retention. The utility of the devices is demonstrated to detect the hybridization of a complementary target DNA in 10 × 10−3 m phosphate‐buffered saline (1× PBS) selectively with a temporal resolution of <1 s in a flow of analyte with no incubation step. The detection time is <30 s and the relative standard deviation of the sensing reproducibility is <15% under the target concentration of 100 × 10−9 m.

Healthcare Monitoring Sensors Based on Organic Transistors: Surface/Interface Strategy and Performance

“…DNA detection has also been achieved through the utilization of an electrolyte-gated transistor, such as a water-gated FET or an ion-gel-gated FET, employing various methods of surface or interface functionalization. [186][187][188][189][190][191] Frisibie et al adopted an extended-floating gate connected with [182] Copyright 2008, Elsevier B.V. b) Functionalization on channel surface; Reproduced with permission. [183] Copyright 2010, WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.…”

Organic Electronics—Microfluidics/Lab on a Chip Integration in Analytical Applications

“…The aqueous electrolyte and low potential render EGOFETs ideal for the detection and quantification of biological molecules inside aqueous media. Doumbia et al [51] recently developed microfluidic-integrated EGOFET sensors for rapid in situ label-free DNA hybridization monitoring, highlighting their potential for biological applications (see Section 2.2.1). These organic bioelectronic technologies advanced rapidly, with recent demonstrations of single-molecule detection with EGOFETs [52].…”

“…The structure of the microfluidic chip, with a separately accommodated gate and organic semiconductor, enabled controllable contamination-free functionalization of the Au-gate electrode with monoclonal anti-(α-synuclein) antibodies. Doumbia et al [51] recently reported integrated EGOFET arrays-microfluidics on a flexible substrate for label-free continuous, in situ real-time detection (which has not often been explored for biomolecule binding) of DNA hybridization under a flowing electrolyte with <1 s temporal resolution.. The sensing was based on measuring a shift in the device's V th that occurred due to a change in the gate electrode work function upon DNA hybridization.…”

“…Sensors 2023, 23, x FOR PEER REVIEW 20 of 27 Doumbia et al [51] recently reported integrated EGOFET arrays-microfluidics on a flexible substrate for label-free continuous, in situ real-time detection (which has not often been explored for biomolecule binding) of DNA hybridization under a flowing electrolyte with <1 s temporal resolution.. The sensing was based on measuring a shift in the device's Vth that occurred due to a change in the gate electrode work function upon DNA hybridization.…”

Quantitative Detection of the Influenza a Virus by an EGOFET-Based Portable Device

“…The combination of an array of biosensors, a microfluidic analyte delivery system, and an electronic data analysis unit makes it possible to analyze biological fluids for the presence of complex biological molecules in real time with low resource costs. [9,36,37].…”