Green Fabrication of (6,5)Carbon Nanotube/Protein Transistor Endowed with Specific Recognition

A general single-step approach is introduced for the green fabrication of hybrid biosensors from water dispersion. The resulting device integrates the semiconducting properties of a carbon nanotube (CNT) and the functionality of a protein. In the initial aqueous phase, the protein (viz., lysozyme [LZ]) disperses the (6,5)CNT. Drop-casting of the dispersion on a test pattern (a silicon wafer with interdigitated Au source and drain electrodes) yields a fully operating, robust, electrolyte-gated transistor (EGT) in one step. The EGT response to biorecognition is then assessed using the LZ inhibitor N-acetyl glucosamine trisaccharide. Analysis of the output signal allows one to extract a protein-substrate binding constant in line with values reported for the free (without CNT) system. The methodology is robust, easy to optimize, redirectable toward different targets and sets the grounds for a new class of CNT-protein biosensors that overcome many limitations of the technology of fabrication of CNT biosensors.

Automated summary

A general single-step approach has been introduced for the green fabrication of hybrid biosensors from water dispersion, successfully integrating the semiconducting properties of a carbon nanotube (CNT) and the functionality of a protein. This methodology allows for the assessment of EGT response to biorecognition and extraction of protein-substrate binding constant, showing promise for a new class of CNT-protein biosensors.