title: Determination of molecular configuration by debye length modulation.
abstract: Silicon nanowire field effect transistors (FETs) have emerged as ultrasensitive, label-free biodetectors that operate by sensing bound surface charge. However, the ionic strength of the environment (i.e., the Debye length of the solution) dictates the effective magnitude of the surface charge. Here, we show that control of the Debye length determines the spatial extent of sensed bound surface charge on the sensor. We apply this technique to different methods of antibody immobilization, demonstrating different effective distances of induced charge from the sensor surface.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Electrical, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States. aleksandar.vacic@yale.edu
authors.forename: Aleksandar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vacic
authors.forename: Jason M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Criscione
authors.forename: Nitin K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Rajan
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stern
authors.forename: Tarek M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Fahmy
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Reed
mesh_terms: D055910:Antibodies, Immobilized / Q000737:chemistry*; D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D053770:Nanowires / Q000737:chemistry*; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D012825:Silicon / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties; D014173:Transistors, Electronic
chemical_list: D055910:Antibodies, Immobilized; D012825:Silicon