Molecular Analysis: BioFET Detection Sensors

Biotechnology is in great need of low-cost intelligent biochips capable of massive parallel detection to be used in portable instrumentation. One way this may be achieved is to exploit mature semiconductor technologies for the development of biosensor arrays. Potentiometric chemical and biological sensors detect electric potential variations which arise at the surface of a solid material when placed in contact with an electrolyte. BioFETs are semiconductor structures functionalized with suitable bioreceptors, which detect biomolecular interactions in a label-free potentiometric fashion and with great sensitivity. They can be easily integrated into low-cost arrays of sensors with portable instrumentation for the parallel screening of large panels of analytes.