A fast and reliable detection of viruses and bacteria is crucial for improving our health care system. Compared to the commonly applied enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method silicon nanowire (SiNW) based bio sensors are able to provide analytical results much quicker and with lower detection limits. Here, we present our approach towards the assembly of SiNW based sensory devices made from bottom-up grown SiNWs. Introducing well-defined Schottky barrier contacts between electrodes and SiNWs allows on/off current ratios of up to 106 and using parallel arrays of SiNWs enables on currents of over 500 A at a source drain voltage of 0.5 V. Furthermore, we present the implementation of the SiNW device into a biocompatible micro fluidic setup as well as the immobilization of aptamer bio receptor molecules on the sensor surface to obtain a bio sensor specific for the blood coagulation protein thrombin with a detection limit in the picomolar range.
A fast and reliable detection of viruses and bacteria is crucial for improving our health care system. Compared to the commonly applied enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method silicon nanowire (SiNW) based bio sensors are able to provide analytical results much quicker and with lower detection limits. Here, we present our approach towards the assembly of SiNW based sensory devices made from bottom-up grown SiNWs. Introducing well-defined Schottky barrier contacts between electrodes and SiNWs allows on/off current ratios of up to 106 and using parallel arrays of SiNWs enables on currents of over 500 A at a source drain voltage of 0.5 V. Furthermore, we present the implementation of the SiNW device into a biocompatible micro fluidic setup as well as the immobilization of aptamer bio receptor molecules on the sensor surface to obtain a bio sensor specific for the blood coagulation protein thrombin with a detection limit in the picomolar range.
