We describe the assembly of layer-by-layer films based on the poly(propylene imine) dendrimer (PPID) generation 3 and nickel tetrasulfonated phthalocyanine (NiTsPc) for application as chemically sensitive membranes in separative extended-gate field effect transistor (SEGFET) pH sensors. PPID/NiTsPc films were adsorbed on quartz, glass, indium tin oxide, or gold (Au)-covered glass substrates. Multilayer formation was monitored via UV-vis absorption upon following the increment in the Q-band intensity (615 nm) of NiTsPc. The nanostructured membranes were very stable in a pH range of 4-10 and displayed a good sensitivity toward H + , ca. 30 mV/pH for PPID/NiTsPc films deposited on Au-covered substrates. For films deposited on ITO, the sensitivity was ca. 52.4 mV/pH, close to the expected theoretical value for ion-sensitive membranes. The use of chemically stable PPID/NiTsPc films as gate membranes in SEGFETs, as introduced here, may represent an alternative for the fabrication of nanostructured, porous platforms for enzyme immobilization to be used in enzymatic biosensors.

Ten years have passed since the beginning of graphene research. In this period we have witnessed breakthroughs both in fundamental and applied research. However, the development of graphene devices for mass production has not yet reached the same level of progress. The architecture of graphene field-effect transistors (FET) has not significantly changed, and the integration of devices at the wafer scale has generally not been sought. Currently, whenever an electrolyte-gated FET (EGFET) is used, an external, cumbersome, out-of-plane gate electrode is required. Here, an alternative architecture for graphene EGFET is presented. In this architecture, source, drain, and gate are in the same plane, eliminating the need for an external gate electrode and the use of an additional reservoir to confine the electrolyte inside the transistor active zone. This planar structure with an integrated gate allows for wafer-scale fabrication of high-performance graphene EGFETs, with carrier mobility up to 1800 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1). As a proof-of principle, a chemical sensor was achieved. It is shown that the sensor can discriminate between saline solutions of different concentrations. The proposed architecture will facilitate the mass production of graphene sensors, materializing the potential of previous achievements in fundamental and applied graphene research.

Nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) is secreted by dengue virus in the first days of infection and acts as an excellent dengue biomarker. Here, the direct electrical detection of NS1 from dengue type 2 virus has been achieved by the measurement of variations in open circuit potential (OCP) between a reference electrode and a disposable Au electrode containing immobilized anti-NS1 antibodies acting as immunosensor. Egg yolk immunoglobulin (IgY) was utilized for the first time as the biological recognition element alternatively to conventional mammalian antibodies in the detection of dengue virus NS1 protein. NS1 protein was detected in standard samples in a 0.1 to 10 µg.mL−1 concentration range with (3.2 ± 0.3) mV/µg.mL−1 of sensitivity and 0.09 µg.mL−1 of detection limit. Therefore, the proposed system can be extended to detect NS1 in real samples and provide an early diagnosis of dengue.

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Separative extended gate field effect transistor (SEGFET) type devices have been used as an ion sensor or biosensor as an alternative to traditional ion sensitive field effect transistors (ISFETs) due to their robustness, ease of fabrication, low cost and possibility of FET isolation from the chemical environment. The layer-by-layer technique allows the combination of different materials with suitable properties for enzyme immobilization on simple platforms such as the extended gate of SEGFET devices enabling the fabrication of biosensors. Here, glucose biosensors based on dendrimers and metallophthalocyanines (MPcs) in the form of layer-by-layer (LbL) films, assembled on indium tin oxide (ITO) as separative extended gate material, has been produced. NH3+ groups in the dendrimer allow electrostatic interactions or covalent bonds with the enzyme (glucose oxidase). Relevant parameters such as optimum pH, buffer concentration and presence of serum bovine albumin (BSA) in the immobilization process were analyzed. The relationship between the output voltage and glucose concentration shows that upon detection of a specific analyte, the sub-products of the enzymatic reaction change the pH locally, affecting the output signal of the FET transducer. In addition, dendritic layers offer a nanoporous environment, which may be permeable to H+ ions, improving the sensibility as modified electrodes for glucose biosensing.

Polycrystalline ITO films with good optoelectronics characteristics and homogeneous surface has been obtained upon annealing at 550 °C in N 2 atmosphere using a low-cost chemical vapor deposition (CVD) system. The films were evaluated as pH sensors in separative extended gate field-effect transistor (SEGFET) apparatus, exhibiting a sensitivity of 53 mV/pH, close to the expected Nernstian theoretical value for ion sensitive materials. The use of CVD process to synthesize ITO, as described here, may represent an alternative for fabrication of SEGFET pH sensors at low cost to be used in disposable biosensors since H + ions are the product of several oxireductase enzymes.