COVID-19 Detection via Silicon Nanowire Field-Effect Transistor: Setup and Modeling of Its Function

Abstract

Biomolecular detection methods have evolved from simple chemical processes to laboratory sensors capable of acquiring accurate measurements of various biological components. Recently, silicon nanowire field-effect transistors (SiNW-FETs) have been drawing enormous interest due to their potential in the biomolecular sensing field. SiNW-FETs exhibit capabilities such as providing real-time, label-free, highly selective, and sensitive detection. It is highly critical to diagnose infectious diseases accurately to reduce the illness and death spread rate. In this work, a novel SiNW-FET sensor is designed using a semiempirical approach, and the electronic transport properties are studied to detect the COVID-19 spike protein. Various electronic transport properties such as transmission spectrum, conductance, and electronic current are investigated by a semiempirical modeling that is combined with a nonequilibrium Green’s function. Moreover, the developed sensor selectivity is tested by studying the electronic transport properties for other viruses including influenza, rotavirus, and HIV. The results indicate that SiNW-FET can be utilized for accurate COVID-19 identification with high sensitivity and selectivity.

Nanowires for UV–vis–IR Optoelectronic Synaptic Devices

“…The results show that the Si NWs FET sensors have the potential to successfully detect the COVID‐19 virus. [ 107 ] A ZnO NWs microplate was developed to detect the antibodies specific of asymptomatic patients with COVID‐19. The ZnO NWs microplate is more sensitive than a commercial assay, which facilitate early detection of antibodies specific in asymptomatic patients with COVID‐19.…”

“…The results show that the Si NWs FET sensors have the potential to successfully detect the COVID-19 virus. [107] A ZnO NWs microplate was developed to detect the antibodies specific of asymptomatic patients with COVID-19.…”

Sugar Molecules Detection via C2N Transistor-Based Sensor: First Principles Modeling

“…These biosensors have shown great performance due to their reliable detection, high sensitivity, and real time monitoring [ 30 ]. The sensing mechanism of transistor-based sensors depends on the change in the channel electrical resistance due to molecular addition and adsorption [ 31 , 32 , 33 ]. These devices have shown effective identification of molecules, ions, bacteria, and several biological entities [ 28 , 31 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 ].…”

Polyethylene Glycol Functionalized Silicon Nanowire Field-Effect Transistor Biosensor for Glucose Detection

“…Semiconductor nanowire field-effect transistor (FET) biosensors have the advantages of easy miniaturization, high sensitivity, fast response, label-free detection, commercial and large-scale application, and mass production [ 6 , 7 ]. They are already widely used to detect viruses [ 8 ], proteins [ 9 ], DNA [ 10 ], antigens [ 11 ], gas [ 12 ], etc., which provides the possibility to develop high performance and low cost implantable glucose biosensor. Due to the remarkable sensitivity, selectivity, real-time and label-free detection capabilities of SiNW-FET, it has attracted much attention in ultrasensitive biomarker detection [ 13 ].…”