Title: Application of silicon nanowire for detection and quantitative analysis of alpha-fetoprotein biomarker

Authors: Van Binh Pham; Thi Thanh Tuyen Le; Thanh Nhat Khoa Phan; Tien Thang Nguyen; Chien Mau Dang

Addresses: Laboratory for Nanotechnology, Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City, Community 6, Linh Trung Ward, Thu Duc District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam ' Laboratory for Nanotechnology, Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City, Community 6, Linh Trung Ward, Thu Duc District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam ' Laboratory for Nanotechnology, Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City, Community 6, Linh Trung Ward, Thu Duc District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam ' Laboratory for Nanotechnology, Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City, Community 6, Linh Trung Ward, Thu Duc District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam ' Laboratory for Nanotechnology, Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City, Community 6, Linh Trung Ward, Thu Duc District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Abstract: Semiconductor silicon nanowires (SiNWs) have shown great potential in detection and quantitative analysis of human disease biomarkers. Compared to current methods such as fluorescence diagnosis, enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) or western blot, the label-free technique using SiNWs as sensors allows fast, efficient and inexpensive detection and quantification of biomarkers. In this research, SiNWs surfaces were modified by antibody of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), a well-known biomarker of liver cancer. This antibody was immobilised to facilitate the specific capture of AFP. The efficiencies of surface modification and antibody immobilisation were estimated by contact angle measurement, fluorescence microscopy, chromogenic reaction, ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy and electrical characterisation of the SiNWs after every surface modification step. A calibration curve between AFP concentration and SiNWs' electrical response was built, from which any other sample with arbitrary concentration of AFP can be quantitatively diagnosed with the SiNWs.

Keywords: biosensor; silicon nanowire; SiNW; alpha-fetoprotein; AFP; liver cancer; fluorescence.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNT.2018.089569

International Journal of Nanotechnology, 2018 Vol.15 No.1/2/3, pp.210 - 221

Published online: 30 Jan 2018 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article