Nanoscale biomolecule sensor and method for operating same

A method for operating a nanoscale biomolecule sensor, the method comprising:

• providing a nanoscale sensor element connected between a first electrical terminal and a second electrical terminal, the nanoscale sensor element coated with a capture agent;
• in the vicinity of the nanoscale sensor element, temporarily establishing an electric field oriented to move biomolecules of interest and other biomolecules having the same charge polarity as the biomolecules of interest towards the nanoscale sensor element where the biomolecules of interest can specifically bind with the capture agent;
• and
• at the electrical terminals, measuring a change in an electrical property of the nanoscale sensor element, the change caused by electric charge carried by the biomolecules of interest specifically bound to the capture agent.

A nanoscale biomolecule sensor, comprising:

• a nanoscale sensor element connected between a first electrical terminal and a second electrical terminal, the nanoscale sensor element coated with a capture agent;
• an electrode arrangement located in the vicinity of the nanoscale sensor element, a first electrical pulse applied to the electrode arrangement establishing a first electric field that moves biomolecules of interest and other biomolecules having the same charge polarity as the biomolecules of interest towards the nanoscale sensor element where the biomolecules of interest can specifically bind with the capture agent, the biomolecules of interest bound to the capture agent having an electric charge that changes an electrical property of the nanoscale sensor element measurable between the electrical terminals;
• and
• a second electrical pulse opposite in polarity to the first electrical pulse applied to the electrode arrangement establishing a second electric field that moves the other biomolecules not specifically bound to the capture agent away from the nanoscale sensor element.