Graphene-Assisted Electromagnetically Induced Transparency-like Terahertz Metabiosensor for Ultra-Sensitive Detection of Ovalbumin
Ruochen Xu,
Pibin Bing,
Xin Yan,
Haiyun Yao,
Lanju Liang,
Zhenhua Li,
Ziqun Wang,
Xiaofei Hu,
Meng Wang,
Jianquan Yao
Affiliations
Ruochen Xu
School of Electric Power, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Zhengzhou 450045, China
Pibin Bing
School of Electric Power, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Zhengzhou 450045, China
Xin Yan
School of Information Science and Engineering, Zaozhuang University, Zaozhuang 277160, China
Haiyun Yao
School of Opto-Electronic Engineering, Zaozhuang University, Zaozhuang 277160, China
Lanju Liang
School of Opto-Electronic Engineering, Zaozhuang University, Zaozhuang 277160, China
Zhenhua Li
School of Opto-Electronic Engineering, Zaozhuang University, Zaozhuang 277160, China
Ziqun Wang
School of Opto-Electronic Engineering, Zaozhuang University, Zaozhuang 277160, China
Xiaofei Hu
School of Opto-Electronic Engineering, Zaozhuang University, Zaozhuang 277160, China
Meng Wang
School of Opto-Electronic Engineering, Zaozhuang University, Zaozhuang 277160, China
Jianquan Yao
The Key Laboratory of Opto-Electronics Information and Technology, Institute of Laser and Opto-Electronics, College of Precision Instruments and Opto-Electronics Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
Terahertz (THz) metamaterial (MM) biosensors are a potential method of biomolecule detection. However, there have been few reports on the detection of trace proteins. In this study, we designed a novel THz biosensor consisting of graphene, polyimide (PI), and electromagnetically induced transparency-like (EIT-like) MMs for the ultra-sensitive detection of ovalbumin (OVA). The doping analyte can influence the Fermi level and electrical conductivity of graphene, as well as the coupling of resonators in MMs. These changes are reflected in the magnitude, phase, and frequency changes in the transmission spectra. The biosensor achieved a high sensitivity function for OVA and reached a limit of detection (LoD) of 8.63 pg/mL. The results showed that by regulating the Fermi level of graphene between the valence band, Dirac point, and conduction band, the sensitivity and LoD of MM-based THz biosensors can be enhanced. Such biosensors have the potential to be used in the high-sensitivity detection of trace proteins in biomedical fields.
