# US 12,007,354 B2 · Rapid detection and identification of bacteria with graphene field effect transistors and peptide probes

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- Number: US 12,007,354 B2
- Document ID: US12007354B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/090,982
- Filed: 2020-11-06
- Published: 2021-05-13
- Granted: 2024-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2019-11-08
- Assignees: The Trustees of Boston College
- Applicants: Kenneth S. Burch; Tim van Opijnen; Jianmin Gao; Narendra Kumar; Juan C. Ortiz-Marquez; Wenjian Wang; Mason Gray
- Inventors: Kenneth S. Burch; Tim van Opijnen; Jianmin Gao; Narendra Kumar; Juan C. Ortiz-Marquez; Wenjian Wang; Mason Gray
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12007354B2

## CPC

- G01N 27/4145: {specially adapted for biomolecules, e.g. gate electrode with immobilised receptors}
- G01N 27/4146: {involving nanosized elements, e.g. nanotubes, nanowires}
- G01N 27/4148: {Integrated circuits therefor, e.g. fabricated by CMOS processing}
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)

## Abstract

A method and system for label-free detection of pathogenic and antibiotic resistant bacteria is disclosed. The method includes fabricating a G-FET/peptide device having a synthesized peptide probe capable of recognizing and binding to a bacterial target; performing electric-field assisted binding of at least one bacterial cell of the bacterial target to the G-FET/peptide device; and electrically detecting the binding of the at least one bacterial cell to the G-FET/peptide device.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A label-free bacteria detection system, comprising:
a graphene field effect transistor (G-FET)/peptide device capable of biosensing using dielectrophoresis and comprising a peptide probe formed of a chemically modified peptide conjugated to a flat aromatic linker and capable of recognizing and binding to a bacterial target integrated on the G-FET, wherein the G-FET comprises a defect-free graphene monolayer fabricated into a field effect transistor having electrical contacts insulated from a defined sensing area.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the bacterial target is pathogenic bacteria.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the bacterial target is an antibiotic resistant bacterial strain.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the peptide probe is bacterial species specific.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the peptide probe is bacterial strain specific.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the G-FET/peptide device is stable at room temperature.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the bacterial target includes S. aureus (ATCC 6538), wild-type A. baumannii (AB5075), A. baumannii (5075 LOS-), B. subtilis, or E. coli.

### Claim 8

A method for the label-free detection of bacteria, comprising:
fabricating a defect-free graphene monolayer into a graphene field effect transistor (G-FET) having electrical contacts insulated from a defined sensing area;
synthesizing a chemically modified peptide and conjugating the synthesized peptide to a flat aromatic linker to create a peptide probe capable of recognizing and binding to a bacterial target;
integrating the peptide probe on the G-FET to provide a G-FET/peptide device capable of biosensing using dielectrophoresis;
performing electric-field assisted binding of at least one bacterial cell of the bacterial target to the defined sensing area of the G-FET/peptide device; and
electrically detecting the binding of the at least one bacterial cell to the G-FET/peptide device.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein electrically detecting the binding of the at least one bacterial cell comprises monitoring changes in the Dirac voltage.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one bacterial cell is pathogenic bacteria.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one bacterial cell is an antibiotic resistant bacterial strain.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the peptide probe is bacterial species specific.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the peptide probe is bacterial strain specific.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the G-FET/peptide device is stable at room temperature.

### Claim 15 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one bacterial cell includes S. aureus (ATCC 6538), wild-type A. baumannii (AB5075), A. baumannii (5075 LOS-), B. subtilis, or E. coli.

### Claim 16 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the method has a sensitivity including a detection limit to 104 cells/ml and detection time to below 5 minutes.

### Claim 17 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein electrically detecting the binding of the at least one bacterial cell includes determining the concentration of the at least one bacterial cell bound to the G-FET/peptide device.

### Claim 18 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, further comprising:
wherein integrating the peptide probe on the G-FET comprises a single-step attachment of the linker molecule peptide probe to the G-FET.