Abstract

A High Aspect Ratio FinFET, A Compromise to Reach Efficient Electrochemical Sensing

Cesar Pascual García, Lead Research Associate, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technolog

Bio-sensing for early diagnostics and to facilitate clinical-decisions is a key-enabling technology for the implementation of next generation. In the last decades, several devices for molecular diagnostics based in the manipulation of genetic material (DNA, RNA…) have validated this concept. The next step is demanding tools for the detection of molecules beyond nucleotides. Field effect transistors (FETs) emerge as one of the candidates for label free sensing, in fact, nano-FETs have shown limits of detection in the femtomolar range. However no clinical applications are currently available. The first drawback is the balance between the optimisation for diffusion-limited processes and reliability, which has made that multiplexing for personalised medicines has low confidence levels and hampers mass production to lower the cost of Point of Care devices. The second limitation is the ionic screening in biological conditions. Many assays using label free sensing measure end-point assays after cleaning and using low ionic strength electrolytes. This decreases the relevance of the measurements and hinders the possibility to access the kinetic information of the molecular binding. We will present a new design of FET for label free sensing using a high aspect ratio FinFET that addresses appropriately all these questions.