A self-powered (In,Ga)N biosensor with Au nanoparticles for monitoring live cell activities

Abstract

The use of biosensors to detect cell activities is of great significance for understanding their biological functions and drug responses. In this work, we propose a self-powered (In,Ga)N biosensor without an external power supply, which is capable of label-free monitoring of live cell activities. Based on the electrical conductivity, Au nanoparticles are deposited on the surface of the (In,Ga)N layer to help cells to adhere to the sensor. Thanks to its small size and continuous monitoring, the biosensor enables us to capture the dynamics of cell adhesion-based activities in situ. In addition, it is found that Au nanoparticles can enhance the current intensity significantly, which could accelerate the electron transfer between the electrodes or increase the reactive oxygen species in cells. According to the spike signals, the biosensor can make contact with live cells for detecting cell activities. Therefore, this developed self-powered biosensor provides a new method to study the cell activities in situ with ultralow power consumption.