Robust label-free microRNA detection using one million ISFET array

• Published in: Biomedical microdevices 2018-06, Vol.20 (2), p.45-10, Article 45
• Main Authors: Ganguli, Anurup, Watanabe, Yoshihiko, Hwang, Michael T., Huang, Jui-Cheng, Bashir, Rashid
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Assaying; Biological and Medical Physics; Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering; Biomolecules; Biophysics; Biosensing Techniques - instrumentation; Biosensors; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; DNA probes; Engineering; Engineering Fluid Dynamics; Field effect transistors; Fluorescence; Genotyping; Hybridization; MicroRNAs - analysis; MicroRNAs - metabolism; miRNA; Molecular chains; Nanotechnology; Nucleic Acid Hybridization; Peptide nucleic acids; Peptide Nucleic Acids - metabolism; Ribonucleic acid; RNA; Semiconductor devices; Sensor arrays; Transistors, Electronic
• ISSN: 1387-2176; 1572-8781
• DOI: 10.1007/s10544-018-0290-8

Detection of nucleic acid molecules is one of the most pervasive assays in biology, medicine, and agriculture applications. Currently, most comely used DNA/RNA detection platforms use fluorescence labeling and require lab-scale setting for performing the assay. There is a need for developing less expensive, label-free, and rapid detection of biomolecules with minimal utilization of resources. Use of electrical approaches for detection of biomolecules by utilizing their inherent charge is a promising direction for biosensing assays. Here, we report a 1024 × 1024 array of Ion Sensitive Field Effect Transistors (ISFET) as label free sensors for detection of nucleic acid molecules. Using PNA probe functionalized on these ISFET array, we robustly detected miRNA Let-7b by measuring changes in drain current after hybridization of target molecules with concentration as low as 1 nM. We demonstrate that mismatched or non-complementary target molecules resulted in statistically smaller changes. Most importantly, the high-density sensor array shows unprecedented reliability and robustness with P values