Detection of Zearalenone Using a Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor Field-Effect-Transistor-Based Biosensor Employing a Pt Reference Electrode

Abstract

We have fabricated a metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect-transistor (MOSFET)-based biosensor for the detection of zearalenone using a standard complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) process. Au was used as the gate metal to immobilize a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) made of mercaptohexadecanoic acid (MHDA). The SAM was used to immobilize anti-zearalenone antibody. The carboxyl group of the SAM was bound to the anti-zearalenone antibody. Anti-zearalenone antibody and zearalenone were bound by an antigen-antibody reaction. The measurements were performed in phosphate buffered saline (PBS; pH 7.4) solution. A Pt electrode was employed as a reference electrode. The gate voltage of the sensor was applied using the Pt reference electrode. The binding of the SAM, anti-zearalenone antibody, and zearalenone caused a variation in the drain current of the MOSFET-based biosensor. To verify the interaction among the SAM, anti-zearalenone antibody, and zearalenone, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) measurements were performed.