Detection of Charged Proteins with a Bio-Sensor Device Using a Semiconductor-on-Insulator Structure

Abstract

A bio-sensor device with a germanium-on-insulator (GOI) structure is successfully modelled and its theoretical results are demonstrated using a self-consistent numerical approach. The impact of quantum effects on charge density in the semiconductor are fully taken into account. The potential changes at the binding sites are determined as a function of the protein charge and ionic strength for the GOI bio-sensor. The simulation data demonstrate calculations of the sensitivity of the GOI structure with respect to specific charge distributions in the electrolyte solution. The results obtained by the quantum and classical charge density modelsare also compared.