Methods for using nanowire sensors
AssigneeNanolVD, Inc.
InventorsSunnie Park KIM, Young Shik SHIN, Changgeng LIU
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods for using nanowire sensors are described. In one embodiment, the nanowire sensor may be field effect transistor having a nanowire and a functionalized control electrode. One method of using such a nanowire sensor includes exposing the functionalized control electrode to a test sample and an enhancing reagent. In another embodiment, the nanowire sensor may be a field effect transistor having a gate electrode and a functionalized nanowire. One method of using such a nanowire sensor includes exposing the functionalized nanowire to a test sample and an enhancing reagent. The use of an enhancing reagent increases the sensitivity of the nanowire sensor to a substance to be detected or quantified.
Claims22
A method for detecting a substance in a first solution, the method comprising:
- providing a field effect transistor having a semiconducting nanowire and a control electrode, wherein at least a portion of a surface of the control electrode is treated with a capture agent configured to selectively bind to the substance;
- exposing the control electrode to the first solution to allow at least a portion of the substance in the first solution to be bound to the control electrode;
- exposing the control electrode to an enhancing reagent configured to selectively bind to the portion of the substance from the first solution, to allow at least a portion of the enhancing reagent to be bound to the portion of the substance from the first solution;
- and
- measuring a first enhanced current density in the semiconducting nanowire, wherein the first enhanced current density corresponds to an amount of the substance from the first solution bound to the control electrode.
11-15. (canceled)
A method for detecting a substance in a first solution, the method comprising:
- providing a field effect transistor having a semiconducting nanowire and a gate electrode, wherein at least a portion of a surface of the semiconducting nanowire is treated with a capture agent configured to selectively bind to the substance;
- exposing the semiconducting nanowire to the first solution to allow at least a portion of the substance in the first solution to be bound to the semiconducting nanowire;
- exposing the semiconducting nanowire to an enhancing reagent configured to selectively bind to the portion of the substance from the first solution, to allow at least a portion of the enhancing reagent to be bound to the portion of the substance from the first solution;
- and
- measuring a first enhanced current density in the semiconducting nanowire, wherein the first enhanced current density corresponds to an amount of the substance from the first solution bound to the semiconducting nanowire.
26-30. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.