Nanosensors-Assisted Quantitative Analysis of Biochemical Processes in Droplets
Micromachines 11, 138 (2020).
D. Belyaev, J. Schütt, B. Ibarlucea, T. Rim, L. Baraban, and G. Cuniberti.
Journal DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/mi11020138

Here, we present a miniaturized lab-on-a-chip detecting system for an all-electric and label-free analysis of the emulsion droplets incorporating the nanoscopic silicon nanowires-based field-effect transistors (FETs). We specifically focus on the analysis of β-galactosidase eg activity, which is an important enzyme of the glycolysis metabolic pathway. Furthermore, the efficiency of the synthesis and action of β-galactosidase can be one of the markers for several diseases, eg., cancer, hyper/hypoglycemia, cell senescence, or other disruptions in cell functioning. We measure the reaction and reaction kinetics-associated shift of the source-to-drain current I sd in the system, which is caused by the change of the ionic strength of the microenvironment. With these results, we demonstrate that the ion-sensitive FETs are able to sense the interior of the aqueous reactors; thus, the conjunction of miniature nanosensors and droplet-based microfluidic systems conceptually opens a new route toward a sensitive, optics-less analysis of biochemical processes.

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©https://doi.org/10.3390/mi11020138
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Nanosensors-Assisted Quantitative Analysis of Biochemical Processes in Droplets
Micromachines 11, 138 (2020).
D. Belyaev, J. Schütt, B. Ibarlucea, T. Rim, L. Baraban, and G. Cuniberti.
Journal DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/mi11020138

Here, we present a miniaturized lab-on-a-chip detecting system for an all-electric and label-free analysis of the emulsion droplets incorporating the nanoscopic silicon nanowires-based field-effect transistors (FETs). We specifically focus on the analysis of β-galactosidase eg activity, which is an important enzyme of the glycolysis metabolic pathway. Furthermore, the efficiency of the synthesis and action of β-galactosidase can be one of the markers for several diseases, eg., cancer, hyper/hypoglycemia, cell senescence, or other disruptions in cell functioning. We measure the reaction and reaction kinetics-associated shift of the source-to-drain current I sd in the system, which is caused by the change of the ionic strength of the microenvironment. With these results, we demonstrate that the ion-sensitive FETs are able to sense the interior of the aqueous reactors; thus, the conjunction of miniature nanosensors and droplet-based microfluidic systems conceptually opens a new route toward a sensitive, optics-less analysis of biochemical processes.

Cover
©https://doi.org/10.3390/mi11020138
Share


Involved Scientists