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Quantitative Performance Analysis of Flexible Ink-jet Printed Low-cost DNA Sensors Based on a CNT Network
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  • Liang Cai ,
  • Krishna M Kovur ,
  • Prashanthi Kovur ,
  • Carlo D. Montemagno
Liang Cai
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Krishna M Kovur
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Prashanthi Kovur
University of Alberta, University of Alberta, University of Alberta, University of Alberta

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Carlo D. Montemagno
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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.