MoTe2 Field-Effect Transistor for the Rapid Detection of Streptavidin via Engineered Support Construct

Effective biosensors that can identify and detect pathogens are in high demand due to the advent of infectious diseases that are spreading rapidly. Two-dimensional (2D) field-effect transistors (FETs) composed of atomically thin semiconducting materials have been found as sustainable options for label-free and prompt sensing applications. This is because even slight alterations made to these extremely thin 2D channels can have a profound effect on their electronic properties. Here, we present a prompt biosensing system based on field-effect transistors (FETs) for the detection of streptavidin (St.) protein. The FET was constructed by using a few layers of a thin sheet of molybdenum ditelluride (MoTe2) over the p-doped Si/SiO2 substrate. The as-prepared MoTe2-based FET was characterized by Raman spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and probe station for its biosensing application. The streptavidin of various concentrations was detected via a self-engineered supporter construct of pyrene-encumbered lysine–biotin (PLB). The study examines the dynamic behavior of the biosensor, based on MoTe2, in detecting varying concentrations of streptavidin ranging from 10 to 1 pM. These biosensors, utilizing 2D-FETs based on transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), have the potential to be utilized for detecting target DNA as well as various proteins, including the spike protein associated with Covid-19.