Enzymatic Biosensors with Integrated Thin Film a-Si:H Photodiodes

A microfabricated amorphous silicon photodiode is used to detect chemiluminescent and colorimetric horseradish peroxidase (HRP) enzymatic reactions. Detections limits of 1 nM and 1 pM of HRP are obtained for chemiluminescent and colorimetric measurements, respectively, with the reactions carried out in solution volume of 50 mu L in polystyrene microwells. Surface-adsorbed HRP can be detected with a limit of 1 fmol.cm(-2) by both detection methods. Immunoassays were performed using HRP-labeled antibodies and the detection of specific antibody-antigen molecular recognition is demonstrated both in the plastic well and inside a microfluidic channel. The application of the a-Si:H/HRP system is extended by coupling HRP with oxidase enzyme systems for glucose detection and a sensitivity of 0.1 mmol/L was achieved.