An electronic enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay platform for protein analysis based on magnetic beads and AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors

Analyst. 2020 Apr 7;145(7):2725-2730. doi: 10.1039/c9an01809c. Epub 2020 Feb 20.

Abstract

AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) biosensors have attracted attention due to their high sensitivity, stability, and fast response characteristics. Some related studies have been explored but a Debye screening problem exists in physiological solutions hindering the detection of bio-macromolecules. Herein, a novel fast analytical platform for electronic enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (e-ELISA) is proposed based on AlGaN/GaN HEMT with magnetic beads (MBs); MB-based e-ELISA decouples the modified area from the sensing surface to simplify the assay. Combining the advantages of e-ELISA and MBs, the resulting analytical platform presents a sensing capability beyond the Debye-screening limit and a novel ability to be reused. This platform offers a fast response toward prostate specific antigen (PSA) and the lowest concentration of detection is 1 fg mL-1. Compared with conventional AlGaN/GaN HEMT biosensors, it shows higher sensitivity (3.73 μA dec-1) in a linear range (1 fg mL-1 to 1 pg mL-1), which is within the constraints of emergency care applications. The platform's high sensitivity and fast repeatability endow it with great potential for early and rapid diagnosis.

MeSH terms

  • Aluminum Compounds / chemistry*
  • Biosensing Techniques / methods*
  • Electrons
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay*
  • Gallium / chemistry*
  • Humans
  • Immunomagnetic Separation
  • Limit of Detection
  • Male
  • Prostate-Specific Antigen / analysis*
  • Prostate-Specific Antigen / isolation & purification
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Transistors, Electronic*

Substances

  • Aluminum Compounds
  • aluminum gallium nitride
  • gallium nitride
  • Gallium
  • Prostate-Specific Antigen