title: Direct attachment of DNA to semiconducting surfaces for biosensor applications.
abstract: In this work we propose a novel method of immobilizing nucleic acids for field effect or high electron mobility transistor-based biosensors. The naturally occurring 5' terminal phosphate group on nucleic acids was used to coordinate with semiconductor and metal oxide surfaces. We demonstrate that DNA can be directly immobilized onto ZrO(2), AlGaN, GaN, and HfO(2) while retaining its ability to hybridize to target sequences with high specificity. By directly immobilizing the probe molecule to the sensor surface, as opposed to conventional crosslinking strategies, the number of steps in device fabrication is reduced. Furthermore, hybridization to target strands occurs closer to the sensor surface, which has the potential to increase device sensitivity by reducing the impact of the Debye screening length.
authors.affiliation: College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, University at Albany, 257 Fuller Road, Albany, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Nicholas M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Fahrenkopf
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shahedipour-Sandvik
authors.forename: Natalya
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tokranova
authors.forename: Magnus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bergkvist
authors.forename: Nathaniel C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Cady
mesh_terms: D017607:Aluminum Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D005708:Gallium / Q000737:chemistry; D006195:Hafnium / Q000737:chemistry; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D036103:Nanotechnology; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization / Q000379:methods*; D010087:Oxides / Q000737:chemistry; D012666:Semiconductors; D015040:Zirconium / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D017607:Aluminum Compounds; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded; D010087:Oxides; C513700:aluminum gallium nitride; C473348:gallium nitride; C545179:hafnium oxide; D015040:Zirconium; D005708:Gallium; C028541:zirconium oxide; D006195:Hafnium