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Updated: Jun 24, 2026
Preparation of Silicon Nanowire Field-effect Transistor for Chemical and Biosensing Applications
Published on: April 21, 2016
Fast picomolar selective detection of bisphenol A in water using a carbon nanotube field effect transistor
Zayda C Sánchez-Acevedo1, Jordi Riu, F Xavier Rius
1Department of Analytical and Organic Chemistry, University Rovira i Virgili, Campus Sescelades, C/ Marcel.lí Domingo s/n, 43007 Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain.
Abstract:
In this paper we report a biosensor for the fast, ultrasensitive and selective determination of bisphenol A in water. It is based on a field effect transistor (FET) in which a network of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) acts as the conductor channel. SWCNTs are functionalized for the first time with a nuclear receptor, the estrogen receptor alpha (ER-alpha), which is adsorbed onto the SWCNTs and acts as the sensing part of the biosensor. SWCTNs are subsequently protected to prevent the non-specific binding of interferences. With this biosensor we can detect picomolar concentrations of BPA in only 2 min of analysis. Selectivity has been tested against possible interferences such as fluoranthene, pentacloronitrobenzene and malathion, and this is the first device that experimentally shows that small molecules can also be selectively detected at ultralow concentrations using a CNTFET biosensor.
