Label-Free Metal-Oxide Transistor Biosensors for Metabolite Detection in Human Saliva

Metabolites are essential molecules involved in various metabolic processes, and their deficiencies and excessive concentrations can trigger significant physiological consequences. The detection of multiple metabolites within a non-invasively collected biofluid could facilitate early prognosis and diagnosis of severe diseases. Here, a metal oxide heterojunction transistor (HJ-TFT) sensor is developed for the label-free, rapid detection of uric acid (UA) and 25(OH)Vitamin-D3 (Vit-D3) in human saliva. The HJ-TFTs utilize a solution-processed In2O3/ZnO channel functionalized with uricase enzyme and Vit-D3 antibody for the selective detection of UA and Vit-D3, respectively. The ultra-thin tri-channel architecture facilitates strong coupling between the electrons transported along the buried In2O3/ZnO heterointerface and the electrostatic perturbations caused by the interactions between the surface-immobilized bioreceptors and target analytes. The biosensors can detect a wide range of concentrations of UA (from 500 nm to 1000 mu M) and Vit-D3 (from 100 pM to 120 nm) in human saliva within 60 s. Moreover, the biosensors exhibit good linearity with the physiological concentration of metabolites and limit of detections of approximate to 152 nm for UA and approximate to 7 pM for Vit-D3 in real saliva. The specificity is demonstrated against various interfering species, including other metabolites and proteins found in saliva, further showcasing its capabilities. All solid-state transistor biosensors based on metal oxide heterojunction channels that are able to detect uric acid and 25(OH)Vitamin-D3 (Vit-D3) in human saliva are demonstrated. The sensors are simple to manufacture and combine rapid response with selectivity toward the specific metabolites and good operational stability. image