Use of Silicon Nanowire Sensors for Early Cancer Diagnosis

Abstract

The review covers some research conducted in the field of medical and biomedical application of devices based on silicon sensor elements (Si-NW-sensors). The use of Si-NW-sensors is one of the key methods used in a whole range of healthcare fields. Their biomedical use is among the most important ones as they offer opportunities for early diagnosis of oncological pathologies, for monitoring the prescribed therapy and for improving the people’s quality of life.

Corrosion monitoring at the interface using sensors and advanced sensing materials: methods, challenges and opportunities

“…Silicon nanowires-based sensor has made an incredible impact on cancer screening or blood analysation [222]. Such sensor offers the opportunity for earlier detection of oncological pathologies [223]. Considering various functions and features, highly sensitive Ag NW placement at the interface could help improve ion collection and could sense small amount of electrolyte at the interface.…”

“…The sensor surface absorbs the molecules and its conductivity changes based on concentration charge changes on the sensor top layer. The advantage of Ag NW in the biosensor is that it requires a very small amount of biological liquid for diagnosis [217,222,223].…”

Investigation on the non-linear behaviour of silicon nanowires and assessment of the biosensing potential

“…Some of these potential and continuously evolving applications include nanowire electronics [4,5], nanowire photovoltaics [6,7], nanowire thermoelectric [8,9] and interdisciplinary applications with promising value/ propositions like interfacing nanowires with living cells [10,11], bio detection (i.e. biosensors) etc [12][13][14][15][16][17][18]. Biosensors have enabled an excellent promise for the routine application of predictive, preventive, and personalized healthcare, with biochemical tests at a much larger scale, at much lower cost, and preferably at point-of-care locations.…”

“…But because of the multiple antibody association steps and the cost aspect of equipment for optical read-out, protein analysis by ELISA is not practical outside a clinical laboratory. SiNW devices, characterized by an exceptionally large surface to volume ratio, present new opportunities for marker detection because their physical and/or electrical properties are strongly modulated by surface functionalization [12][13][14][15][16][17][18]. SiNW surface is readily functionalized by wellestablished silane chemistry, enabling routine coupling of DNA and antibodies thereby eliminating the need for fluorophore attachment and costly optics for detection [12][13][14][15][16][17][18].…”

“…SiNW devices, characterized by an exceptionally large surface to volume ratio, present new opportunities for marker detection because their physical and/or electrical properties are strongly modulated by surface functionalization [12][13][14][15][16][17][18]. SiNW surface is readily functionalized by wellestablished silane chemistry, enabling routine coupling of DNA and antibodies thereby eliminating the need for fluorophore attachment and costly optics for detection [12][13][14][15][16][17][18]. Usually, a functionalized SiNW biosensor platform may comprise liquid-gating (figure 1) where a fixed drain voltage (V DS ) is applied across the NW and the Au or AgCl electrode is used to provide the liquid-gate voltage (V GS ) in the buffer of required ionic strength.…”