A functionalized THz sensor for marker-free DNA analysis.
We report on a novel resonant THz sensor for the label-free analysis of DNA molecules. The sensor allows the direct detection of DNA-probe molecules at functionalized electrodes via hybridization. Subsequent time resolved photoconductive sampling of the THz transmission identifies the binding state between probe and target DNA. Integrating neighbouring sensors on a chip, this technique can be extended to a parallel analysis of multiple DNA sequences. A clearly readable sensor response is obtained with less then 40 fmol of 20-mer single-stranded DNA molecules, indicating at least a sevenfold sensitivity increase compared to previous approaches.
Nagel
M
M
Institute for Semiconductor Electronics, Aachen University, Sommerfeldstr. 24, 52074 Aachen, Germany. nagel@iht.rwth-aachen.de
Richter
F
F
Haring-Bolívar
P
P
Kurz
H
H
D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D015342:DNA Probes / Q000032:analysis*; D004566:Electrodes; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013057:Spectrum Analysis
D015342:DNA Probes