Why a Diffusing Single-Molecule can be Detected in Few Minutes by a Large Capturing Bioelectronic Interface

Eleonora Macchia, Liberato De Caro, Fabrizio Torricelli, Cinzia Di Franco, Giuseppe Felice Mangiatordi, Gaetano Scamarcio*, Luisa Torsi *

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

15 Citations (Scopus)
24 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Single-molecule detection at a nanometric interface in a femtomolar solution, can take weeks as the encounter rate between the diffusing molecule to be detected and the transducing nanodevice is negligibly small. On the other hand, several experiments prove that macroscopic label-free sensors based on field-effect-transistors, engaging micrometric or millimetric detecting interfaces are capable to assay a single-molecule in a large volume within few minutes. The present work demonstrates why at least a single molecule out of a few diffusing in a 100 µL volume has a high probability to hit a large capturing and detecting electronic interface. To this end, sensing data, measured with an electrolyte-gated FET whose gate is functionalized with 1012 capturing anti-immunoglobulin G, are here provided along with a Brownian diffusion-based modeling. The EG-FET assays solutions down to some tens of zM in concentrations with volumes ranging from 25 µL to 1 mL in which the functionalized gates are incubated for times ranging from 30 s to 20 min. The high level of accordance between the experimental data and a model based on the Einstein's diffusion-theory proves how the single-molecule detection process at large-capturing interfaces is controlled by Brownian diffusion and yet is highly probable and fast.

Original languageEnglish
Article number2104381
JournalAdvanced Science
Volume9
Issue number20
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 6 May 2022
MoE publication typeA1 Journal article-refereed

Keywords

  • electrolyte-gated field-effect transistor
  • large-capturing interface
  • organic bioelectronics
  • single-molecule detection

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