Recent progress in silicon-based biologically sensitive field-effect devices

Abstract

Biologically sensitive field-effect devices (BioFEDs) advantageously combine the electronic field-effect functionality with the (bio)chemical receptor's recognition ability for (bio)chemical sensing. In this review, basic and widely applied device concepts of silicon-based BioFEDs (ion-sensitive field-effect transistor, silicon nanowire transistor, electrolyte-insulator-semiconductor capacitor, and light-addressable potentiometric sensor) are presented, and recent progress (from 2019 to early 2021) is discussed. One of the main advantages of BioFEDs is the label-free sensing principle enabling them to detect a large variety of biomolecules and bioparticles by their intrinsic charge. The review encompasses applications of BioFEDs for the label-free electrical detection of clinically relevant protein biomarkers, DNA molecules and viruses, enzyme–substrate reactions as well as recording of the cell acidification rate (as an indicator of cellular metabolism) and the extracellular potential. • Biologically sensitive field-effect devices offer a universal platform for numerous (bio)chemical sensors. • Biologically sensitive field-effect devices enable label-free detection of biomolecules by their molecular charge. • Conventional device concepts are the ion-sensitive field-effect transistor, silicon nanowire field-effect transistor, electrolyte-insulator-semiconductor capacitor, and light-addressable potentiometric sensor. • Applications include detection of proteins, DNA, viruses, and cellular activity.