Penicillin biosensor based on a capacitive field-effect structure functionalized with a dendrimer/carbon nanotube multilayer.

Silicon-based sensors incorporating biomolecules are advantageous for processing and possible biological recognition in a small, reliable and rugged manufactured device. In this study, we report on the functionalization of field-effect (bio-)chemical sensors with layer-by-layer (LbL) films containing single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers. A capacitive electrolyte-insulator-semiconductor (EIS) structure modified with carbon nanotubes (EIS-NT) was built, which could be used as a penicillin biosensor. From atomic force microscopy (AFM) and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) images, the LbL films were shown to be highly porous due to interpenetration of SWNTs into the dendrimer layers. Capacitance-voltage (C/V) measurements pointed to a high pH sensitivity of ca. 55 mV/pH for the EIS-NT structures. The biosensing ability towards penicillin of an EIS-NT-penicillinase biosensor was also observed as the flat-band voltage shifted to lower potentials at different penicillin concentrations. A dynamic response of penicillin concentrations, ranging from 5.0 microM to 25 mM, was evaluated for an EIS-NT with the penicillinase enzyme immobilized onto the surfaces, via constant-capacitance (ConCap) measurements, achieving a sensitivity of ca. 116 mV/decade. The presence of the nanostructured PAMAM/SWNT LbL film led to sensors with higher sensitivity and better performance.

[1]  Zhiyong Tang,et al.  Biomedical Applications of Layer‐by‐Layer Assembly: From Biomimetics to Tissue Engineering , 2006 .

[2]  V. Zucolotto,et al.  Bifunctional electroactive nanostructured membranes , 2007 .

[3]  Katsuhiko Ariga,et al.  Layer-by-layer assembly as a versatile bottom-up nanofabrication technique for exploratory research and realistic application. , 2007, Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP.

[4]  A. Star,et al.  Carbon Nanotube Field‐Effect‐Transistor‐Based Biosensors , 2007 .

[5]  M. Ishida,et al.  Fabrication of a highly sensitive penicillin sensor based on charge transfer techniques. , 2009, Biosensors & bioelectronics.

[6]  Minghui Yang,et al.  Layer-by-layer self-assembled multilayer films of carbon nanotubes and platinum nanoparticles with polyelectrolyte for the fabrication of biosensors. , 2006, Biomaterials.

[7]  Gengfeng Zheng,et al.  Nanowire-Based Nanoelectronic Devices in the Life Sciences , 2007 .

[8]  Michael J. Schöning,et al.  Bio FEDs (Field‐Effect Devices): State‐of‐the‐Art and New Directions , 2006 .

[9]  Michael J. Schöning,et al.  Carbon nanotubes in nanostructured films: Potential application as amperometric and potentiometric field‐effect (bio‐)chemical sensors , 2009 .

[10]  N. Kotov,et al.  Layer-by-layer assembled composites from multiwall carbon nanotubes with different morphologies , 2004 .

[11]  Vladimir V Tsukruk,et al.  Freely suspended nanocomposite membranes as highly sensitive sensors , 2004, Nature materials.

[12]  P. Hammond.  Form and Function in Multilayer Assembly: New Applications at the Nanoscale , 2004 .

[13]  A. Besmehn,et al.  Penicillin detection with nanocrystalline‐diamond field‐effect sensor , 2008 .

[14]  Joseph Wang,et al.  Electrochemical sensors, biosensors, and their biomedical applications , 2008 .

[15]  Michael J. Schöning,et al.  Label-free detection of charged macromolecules by using a field-effect-based sensor platform: Experiments and possible mechanisms of signal generation , 2007 .

[16]  M. Schöning,et al.  Detection of charged macromolecules by means of field-effect devices (FEDs): possibilities and limitations , 2008 .

[17]  R. Misra,et al.  Biomaterials , 2008 .

[18]  Hee Cheul Choi,et al.  Network single-walled carbon nanotube-field effect transistors (SWNT-FETs) with increased Schottky contact area for highly sensitive biosensor applications. , 2006, Journal of the American Chemical Society.

[19]  P. Hammond,et al.  Electrochemically enabled polyelectrolyte multilayer devices: from fuel cells to sensors. , 2007, Soft matter.

[20]  Valtencir Zucolotto,et al.  Catechol biosensing using a nanostructured layer-by-layer film containing Cl-catechol 1,2-dioxygenase. , 2006, Biosensors & bioelectronics.

[21]  Tianhong Cui,et al.  High-mobility transistors based on nanoassembled carbon nanotube semiconducting layer and SiO2 nanoparticle dielectric layer , 2006 .

[22]  James F. Rusling,et al.  Carbon Nanotubes for Electronic and Electrochemical Detection of Biomolecules , 2007, Advanced materials.

[23]  K. R. Daghastanli,et al.  Using capacitance measurements as the detection method in antigen-containing layer-by-layer films for biosensing. , 2007, Analytical chemistry.

[24]  M. Schöning,et al.  Characterisation of capacitive field-effect sensors with a nanocrystalline-diamond film as transducer material for multi-parameter sensing. , 2009, Biosensors & bioelectronics.

[25]  V. Zucolotto,et al.  Processing of Electroactive Nanostructured Films Incorporating Carbon Nanotubes and Phthalocyanines for Sensing , 2008 .

[26]  V. Zucolotto,et al.  Physicochemical properties and sensing ability of metallophthalocyanines/chitosan nanocomposites. , 2006, The journal of physical chemistry. B.

[27]  S. Ingebrandt,et al.  Field-effect sensors for monitoring the layer-by-layer adsorption of charged macromolecules , 2006 .

[28]  K. Balasubramanian,et al.  Biosensors based on carbon nanotubes , 2006, Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry.

[29]  S. Ingebrandt,et al.  Field-effect sensors with charged macromolecules: characterisation by capacitance-voltage, constant-capacitance, impedance spectroscopy and atomic-force microscopy methods. , 2007, Biosensors & bioelectronics.

[30]  Evgeny Katz,et al.  Field-Effect Nanoparticle-Based Glucose Sensor on a Chip: Amplification Effect of Coimmobilized Redox Species , 2008 .

[31]  S. Miertus,et al.  Amperometric pH-sensing biosensors for urea, penicillin, and oxalacetate , 2000 .