title: Functionalized ZnO nanowires for microcantilever biosensors with enhanced binding capability.
abstract: An efficient way to increase the binding capability of microcantilever biosensors is here demonstrated by growing zinc oxide nanowires (ZnO NWs) on their active surface. A comprehensive evaluation of the chemical compatibility of ZnO NWs brought to the definition of an innovative functionalization method able to guarantee the proper immobilization of biomolecules on the nanostructured surface. A noteworthy higher amount of grafted molecules was evidenced with colorimetric assays on ZnO NWs-coated devices, in comparison with functionalized and activated silicon flat samples. ZnO NWs grown on silicon microcantilever arrays and activated with the proposed immobilization strategy enhanced the sensor binding capability (and thus the dynamic range) of nearly 1 order of magnitude, with respect to the commonly employed flat functionalized silicon devices. Graphical Abstract An efficient way to increase the binding capability of microcantilever biosensors is represented by growing zinc oxide nanowires (ZnO NWs) on their active surface. ZnO NWs grown on silicon microcantilever arrays and activated with an innovative immobilization strategy enhanced the sensor binding capability of nearly 1 order of magnitude, with respect to the commonly employed flat functionalized silicon devices.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129, Torino, Italy. stefano.stassi@polito.it.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stassi
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chiadò
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cauda
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Palmara
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Canavese
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Laurenti
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ricciardi
mesh_terms: D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D053770:Nanowires / Q000737:chemistry*; D012825:Silicon / Q000737:chemistry*; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D015034:Zinc Oxide; D012825:Silicon
keywords: Biosensors; Functionalization; Microcantilever; Nanowires; Protein immobilization; Zinc oxide