Single Molecule Level and Label-Free Determination of Multibiomarkers with an Organic Field-Effect Transistor Platform in Early Cancer Diagnosis

Abstract

The single molecule level determination with a transistor (SiMoT) platform has attracted considerable attention in the recognition of various ultralow abundance biomolecules, while complicated labeling and testing processes limit its further applications. Recently, organic field-effect transistor (OFET)-based biosensors are good candidates for constructing an advanced label-free SiMoT platform due to their facile fabrication process, rapid response time, and low sample volume with a wide range of detection. However, the sensitivity of most OFET-based biosensors is in the order of nM and pM, which cannot meet the detection requirements of ultralow abundance protein. Herein, a label-free SiMoT platform is demonstrated by integrating pillar[n]arene as a signal amplifier, and the detection limit can reach 4.75 aM. Besides, by simultaneous determination of α-fetoprotein, carcinoembryonic antigen, and prostate antigen, the proposed multiplexed OFETbased SiMoT platform provides a key step in reliable early cancer diagnosis.

Recent Advances in Field Effect Transistor Biosensors: Designing Strategies and Applications for Sensitive Assay

“…Bladder cancer biomarkers, nuclear matrix protein 22 (NMP22) and cytokeratin 8 (CK8), were detected simultaneously with detection limits of 0.027 and 0.019 aM, respectively, suggesting that properly designed multi–channel sensor arrays can be routinely used for detection with high sensitivity and accuracy [ 81 ]. Sun et al integrated the prepared DMP [5]–COOH molecules as signal amplifiers with OFET devices and the sensing array was divided into different detection areas, which realized synchronous and immediate detection of three tumor markers with ultra–high sensitivity at aM level ( Figure 10 b) [ 82 ].Furthermore, as shown in Figure 10 c, a graphene–based sensor array platform that consisted of more than 200 (16 × 16) integrated sensing units was constructed by Xue et al The sensor chip was designed as three separate regions to enable the detection of potassium, sodium and calcium ions in complex solutions, such as artificial urine and artificial eccrine perspiration. The way to functionalize the graphene surface was by depositing three different ion–selective membranes (ISMs) using a 3D printing machine.…”

“…( b ) Simultaneous determination of three biomarkers using a FET sensor array. Reproduced with permission from [ 82 ]. Copyright 2022, American Chemical Society.…”

Organic thin-film transistors and related devices in life and health monitoring

“…In recent years, chemometrics work has become more apparent in people's life and health for early disease diagnosis. For instance, Cheng's group recently reported a series of high-performance biosensors for simultaneous biomarker determination [60][61][62].…”

A Road Map toward Field‐Effect Transistor Biosensor Technology for Early Stage Cancer Detection

“…Also, to effectively use the sensor device for multipurpose analysis, simultaneous detection of multiple biomarkers with several distinctive multichannel sensing areas with different sensitive probes needs to be developed for improving the accuracy without compromising the sensitivity. [ 154,155 ] iv)Reusable/disposable, long‐term stability: The reproducibility and reliability of the sensors are limited, and poor regeneration leads to use it once only and throw the sensor. Hence the realistic demanding specifications need to be improved in the view of reproducibility, reusability, and reliability.…”