Ultra-Low Detection Limits and Selectivity With Organic Bio-Electronic Sensors
Luisa Torsi
Department of Chemistry – University of Bari, Italy
Point-of-care (POC) platforms are integrated diagnostic systems employed for the detection
of clinically relevant biomarkers in biological fluids such as blood, urine and saliva. These
devices offer the advantage to provide rapid results directly where the information is needed
(e.g. patient’s home, doctor’s office or emergency room), thus facilitating an earlier diagnosis
and a prompt patient’s treatment.
Various technologies have been proposed for the realization of POC biosensors including
label-free techniques based on optical, mechanical and electrochemical transducers.
However, reliable, quantitative and ultrasensitive devices have been not yet commercialized.
Electronic biosensors based on organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs) are a promising choice
for the development of the next generation of POC devices. These biosensors can be
combined with integratedelectrical circuits, microfluidic systems and wireless technologies.
Furthermore, they offer high sensitivity, biocompatibility and possibility to produce all-
printed low-cost biosensors in flexible and disposable formats.Among them, electrolyte-gated
(EG)-OTFTs have been identified as ideal candidates for biosensors development as they
operate at low voltages directly in aqueous buffer solutions. Using these configurations
ultrasensitive label-free immunosensors for the detection of C-reactive protein (CRP), a
specific biomarker of inflammatory and infection diseases, at the femtomolar concentration
level have been developed. The devices are also able to perform chiral differential detection
of odorant molecules. The specific features of the proposed EGOTFT biosensors as well as
their analytical performances will be discussed.
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- K. Manoli et al. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2015, 54, 12562–12576.
- E. Macchia, Scientific Reports 6, Article number: 28085 (2016)
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