A graphene field-effect transistor as a molecule-specific probe of DNA nucleobases

Nat Commun. 2015 Mar 24:6:6563. doi: 10.1038/ncomms7563.

Abstract

Fast and reliable DNA sequencing is a long-standing target in biomedical research. Recent advances in graphene-based electrical sensors have demonstrated their unprecedented sensitivity to adsorbed molecules, which holds great promise for label-free DNA sequencing technology. To date, the proposed sequencing approaches rely on the ability of graphene electric devices to probe molecular-specific interactions with a graphene surface. Here we experimentally demonstrate the use of graphene field-effect transistors (GFETs) as probes of the presence of a layer of individual DNA nucleobases adsorbed on the graphene surface. We show that GFETs are able to measure distinct coverage-dependent conductance signatures upon adsorption of the four different DNA nucleobases; a result that can be attributed to the formation of an interface dipole field. Comparison between experimental GFET results and synchrotron-based material analysis allowed prediction of the ultimate device sensitivity, and assessment of the feasibility of single nucleobase sensing with graphene.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenine / metabolism*
  • Adsorption
  • Base Sequence
  • Cytosine / metabolism*
  • DNA Probes*
  • DNA*
  • Graphite / metabolism*
  • Guanine / metabolism*
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Thymine / metabolism*
  • Transistors, Electronic*

Substances

  • DNA Probes
  • Guanine
  • Graphite
  • Cytosine
  • DNA
  • Adenine
  • Thymine