Real-time protein detection using ZnO nanowire/thin film bio-sensor integrated with microfluidic system

A nanoscale semiconducting ZnO based biosensor with integrated microfluidics is designed, fabricated and tested to demonstrate the detection of streptavidin, a commonly used protein. Amperometric (I-t) measurement is utilized to detect the change of conductivity over time. By comparing with the control experiment, the specific binding event between biotin and streptavidin is detected. The data indicates a conductivity change by more than 20% after the protein hybridization. The second part of the papers presents a ZnO thin film based biosensor which is integated with a microfluidic system. Same experiment protocols are carried and similar change in I-t characteristics is observed. This is the first demonstration of real time biosensing with ZnO nanowires and thin films that are integrated with microfluidic systems. This can be further extended to fabricate bio-sensors which can potentially detect any protein in real time. Amperometric sensing results in a label-free detection system as it detects the protein hybridization events electrically. When integrated on the System-on-Package (SOP) platform, this technology can lead to portable, reliable and cost effective biosensors with applications in many areas.