Ultra-sensitive heterojunction double gate BioTFET device for SARS-CoV-2 biomolecules detection

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biotechnology
• Electrical Engineering

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, necessitates rapid diagnostic tools due to evolving viral mutations impacting transmission and severity.
• Existing biosensors face limitations like susceptibility to short-channel effects and lower sensitivity.
• There is an urgent need for highly sensitive and rapid detection methods for SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein and RNA.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel Dielectrically Modulated-Double Gate-Heterojunction-Tunnel FET-based biosensor (DG-bioHTFET) for enhanced SARS-CoV-2 detection.
• To engineer a biosensor capable of identifying specific SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein and RNA biomolecules.
• To evaluate the sensor's sensitivity and response time compared to conventional bioFETs.

Main Methods:

• Design and simulation of a Dielectrically Modulated-Double Gate-Heterojunction-Tunnel FET (DG-bioHTFET).
• Integration of specific permittivity (k) for SARS-CoV-2 biomolecules within nanogaps.
• Characterization of device performance, including drain current (Ids) and ON/OFF ratios at varying dielectric constants.

Main Results:

• The DG-bioHTFET demonstrated superior sensitivity and faster response times compared to traditional bioFETs.
• A significant drain current (Ids) of 2.32 × 10^-5 A/µm was achieved at Vgs = 1.5 V.
• High I_ON/I_OFF ratios (3.550 × 10^5 at k=5 and 3.403 × 10^5 at k=3.64) indicate excellent sensitivity to biomolecules with higher dielectric constants.

Conclusions:

• The proposed DG-bioHTFET is a highly sensitive and rapid label-free biosensor for detecting SARS-CoV-2 biomarkers.
• The device's performance is enhanced by its sensitivity to biomolecules with elevated dielectric constants.
• This TFET-based biosensor shows significant potential for precise and efficient biosensing applications in managing infectious diseases.