ISFET and Dex-AgNPs based portable sensor for reusable and real-time determinations of concanavalin A and glucose on smartphone

Abstract In this paper, a portable real-time sensing device was built for Concanavalin A (Con A) and glucose detection using a smartphone. The ion-sensitive field-effect transistor (ISFET) functioning at a low working point was selected as a small-size, low-power transducer, and dextran-capped silver nanoparticles (Dex-AgNPs) served as sensitive nanoprobes on the ISFET gate. Using the affinity between Con A and carbohydrates, Con A can be captured, and thus directly detected by the ISFET/Dex-AgNPs unit; then glucose can be determined indirectly by removing Con A from the ISFET/Dex-AgNPs/Con A unit via competition with dextran. The mechanism of this competition does less harm to the sensor, allows the reusability of the sensing device, and overcomes the Debye screening of the FET device in saline solutions. Powered by a button cell, the handheld device attains excellent Con A (0.16 ng mL−1) and glucose (10 nM) detection limit, and can practically be used for at least 20 days.