Electronic Detection of Single Cancer Cells with Graphene Field Effect Transistors

Abstract

Here, we present electronic-type biosensors for ultra-sensitive detection of pancreatic cancer cells, based on graphene field effect transistors. The devices was decorated with bi-functional pyrene-iRGD peptides in which the pyrene moiety binds to the graphene though pi-pi interaction and the iRGD peptides binds to neuropilin receptors in the pancreatic cancer cells. Real-time electronic detection enabled detecting few cancer cells in the presence of the human serum, which is a critical for the early detection of cancer diagnosis and treatments. We acknowledge the support of ND EPSCoR New Faculty Award and ND NASA EPSCoR RID Grant.