Nanoelectromechanical Field Effect Transistor (NEMFET) Based Biosensor for the Detection of Charged/Non-Charged Biomolecules

There are two types of biosensors currently being used, mechanical and electrical. Both methods have their advantages for detecting biomolecules, such as DNA, but by combining the features of both devices, Purdue University researchers have designed a biosensor that surpasses both.

Researchers at Purdue University have developed a new nanoscopic biosensor that is based on the nanoelectromechanical field effect transistor (NEMFET), which uses the cantilever design of a mechanical biosensor with the ion-sensing design of an electrical biosensor, to detect both charged and uncharged biomolecules. The increased sensitivity of this design, along with its nanoscopic scale, will lead to smaller, more powerful biosensor devices in the future.

Advantages:

-Mechanical and electrical sensing for increased sensitivity

-Nanoscopic size

-Detects both charged and uncharged particles

Potential Applications:

-Biosensors

-Manufacturing

-Electronic Devices

TRL: 3

Intellectual Property:

Keywords: biosensors, mechanical biosensor, electrical biosensor, nanoscopic biosensor, nanoelectromechanical field effect transistor, NEMFET, cantilever design, ion sensing, charged biomolecules, uncharged biomolecules, Biosensors, Electrical Engineering, Micro & Nanoelectronics