Quantitative Performance Analysis of Flexible Ink-jet Printed Low-cost
DNA Sensors Based on a CNT Network
Abstract
We report the design, fabrication and quantitative performance analysis
of a low-cost, flexible carbon nanotube (CNT) network-based
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sensor. These sensors comprise an array of
ink-jet printed silver (Ag) electrodes on a transparent polyethylene
terephthalate (PET) flexible substrate, where a CNT network acts as a
sensing layer. The DNA hybridization is studied by immobilizing
single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) probes on the CNT surface; these probes
recognize their complementary DNA target. Further, we have carried out a
quantitative performance analysis of the flexible CNT biosensors using
the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). We have identified various
influencing factors and sub-factors (performance indicators), and
quantified the performance of the flexible CNT biosensors in different
measured states (before bending, during bending and after bending).
Additionally, the noise and other external factors contributing to the
measured real signal have been quantified. The interpretation of the
overall outcome will enable the improvement of the performance of
flexible biosensors fabricated through large-scale manufacturing for
possible commercialization.