title: Patterned growth of vertically aligned silicon nanowire arrays for label-free DNA detection using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy.
abstract: Patterning is of paramount importance in many areas of modern science and technology. As a good candidate for novel nanoscale optoelectronics and miniaturized molecule sensors, vertically aligned silicon nanowire (SiNW) with controllable location and orientation is highly desirable. In this study, we developed an effective procedure for the fabrication of vertically aligned SiNW arrays with micro-sized features by using single-step photolithography and silver nanoparticle-induced chemical etching at room temperature. We demonstrated that the vertically aligned SiNW arrays can be used as a platform for label-free DNA detection using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), where the inherent "fingerprint" SERS spectra allows for the differentiation of closely related biospecies. Since the SiNW array patterns could be modified by simply varying the mask used in the photolithographic processing, it is expected that the methodology can be used to fabricate label-free DNA microarrays and may be applicable to tissue engineering, which aims to create living tissue substitutes from cells seeded onto 3D scaffolds.
authors.affiliation: Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Biochip Technology, Biotech and Health Centre, City University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China.
authors.forename: Changqing
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.forename: Cheuk-Wing
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Huayang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Mingliang
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Suijian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: Ning-Bew
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Shuit-Tong
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Mengsu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D053770:Nanowires / Q000737:chemistry*; D012825:Silicon / Q000737:chemistry*; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman
chemical_list: D004247:DNA; D012825:Silicon