title: Simulations of Interdigitated Electrode Interactions with Gold Nanoparticles for Impedance-Based Biosensing Applications.
abstract: In this paper, we describe a point-of-care biosensor design. The uniqueness of our design is in its capability for detecting a wide variety of target biomolecules and the simplicity of nanoparticle enhanced electrical detection. The electrical properties of interdigitated electrodes (IDEs) and the mechanism for gold nanoparticle-enhanced impedance-based biosensor systems based on these electrodes are simulated using COMSOL Multiphysics software. Understanding these properties and how they can be affected is vital in designing effective biosensor devices. Simulations were used to show electrical screening develop over time for IDEs in a salt solution, as well as the electric field between individual digits of electrodes. Using these simulations, it was observed that gold nanoparticles bound closely to IDEs can lower the electric field magnitude between the digits of the electrode. The simulations are also shown to be a useful design tool in optimizing sensor function. Various different conditions, such as electrode dimensions and background ion concentrations, are shown to have a significant impact on the simulations.
authors.affiliation: Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, University of Alberta, 116 St & 85 Ave, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada. samackay@ualberta.ca.
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: MacKay
authors.affiliation: Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, University of Alberta, 116 St & 85 Ave, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada. phermans@ualberta.ca.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hermansen
authors.affiliation: Department of Computing Science, 2-21 Athabasca Hall, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E8, Canada. david.wishart@ualberta.ca.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wishart
authors.affiliation: Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, University of Alberta, 116 St & 85 Ave, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada. jc65@ualberta.ca.|National Research Council/National Institute for Nanotechnology, 11421 Saskatchewan Dr NW, Edmonton, AB T6G 2M9, Canada. jc65@ualberta.ca.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D017097:Electric Impedance; D004566:Electrodes; D004867:Equipment Design; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D006046:Gold
keywords: COMSOL; biosensor; gold nanoparticles; interdigitated electrodes