Concentration Sensitivity of Nucleic Acid and Protein Molecule Detection Using Nanowire Biosensors

Abstract

The concentration detection limit (DL) of biomacromolecules attainable using a nanowire detector has become a topical issue. A DL of 10−15 M is required to reveal oncological and infectious diseases at an early stage. This study discusses the DL experimentally attainable in the subfemtomolar concentration range, and possible mechanisms explaining such a low-concentration DL through the cooperative effect of biomacromolecular complexes formed on the surface of the nanowire (NW) chip near the nanowire.

Keywords

• nanowire biosensor
• ultrasensitive protein detection
• detection limit
• field-effect nanotransistor