Functional nanostructured platforms for chemical and biological sensing

S. E. Létant

doi:10.1117/12.663771

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18 May 2006 Functional nanostructured platforms for chemical and biological sensing

S. E. Létant

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Proceedings Volume 6223, Micro (MEMS) and Nanotechnologies for Space Applications; 62230B (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.663771
Event: Defense and Security Symposium, 2006, Orlando (Kissimmee), Florida, United States

Abstract

The central goal of our work is to combine semiconductor nanotechnology and surface functionalization in order to build platforms for the selective detection of bio-organisms ranging in size from bacteria (micron range) down to viruses, as well as for the detection of chemical agents (nanometer range). We will show on three porous silicon platforms how pore geometry and pore wall chemistry can be combined and optimized to capture and detect specific targets. We developed a synthetic route allowing to directly anchor proteins on silicon surfaces and illustrated the relevance of this technique by immobilizing live enzymes onto electrochemically etched luminescent nano-porous silicon. The powerful association of the specific enzymes with the transducing matrix led to a selective hybrid platform for chemical sensing. We also used light-assisted electrochemistry to produce periodic arrays of through pores on pre-patterned silicon membranes with controlled diameters ranging from many microns down to tens of nanometers. We demonstrated the first covalently functionalized silicon membranes and illustrated their selective capture abilities with antibody-coated micro-beads. These engineered membranes are extremely versatile and could be adapted to specifically recognize the external fingerprints (size and coat composition) of target bio-organisms. Finally, we fabricated locally functionalized single nanopores using a combination of focused ion beam drilling and ion beam assisted oxide deposition. We showed how a silicon oxide ring can be grown around a single nanopore and how it can be functionalized with DNA probes to detect single viral-sized beads. The next step for this platform is the detection of whole viruses and bacteria.

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S. E. Létant "Functional nanostructured platforms for chemical and biological sensing", Proc. SPIE 6223, Micro (MEMS) and Nanotechnologies for Space Applications, 62230B (18 May 2006); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.663771

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