Date of Award

Fall 2021

Project Type

Thesis

Program or Major

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Degree Name

Master of Science

First Advisor

Edward Song

Second Advisor

Md. Shaad Mahmud

Third Advisor

Diliang Chen

Abstract

Graphene field-effect transistor (GFET) is becoming an increasingly popular biosensing platform for monitoring health conditions through biomarker detection. Moreover, the graphene’s 2-dimensional geometry makes it ideal for implementing flexible or wearable electronic devices. By using a GFET platform as a biosensor, users can easily monitor numerous health conditions. A sweat-based biosensor can non-invasively monitor levels of proteins in the body and alert the user to possible issues such as a steep increase or decrease in a particular protein. By creating a platform that can be used as a wearable biosensor, it allows for rapid results and a cheaper way to provide clinical quality data about one’s health conditions. This thesis presents a novel approach for creating a low cost, reliable and selective, wearable biosensor for real-time observation and tracking of the levels of the protein biomarker Interleukin-6 (IL-6). A printable graphene transistor-based biosensor is created by using a PCB printer on a flexible Kapton substrate. The conductive channel of the GFET is created using a chemical vapor deposition (CVD)-grown graphene layer. By functionalizing (or modifying) the graphene surface with biorecognition elements such as antibodies or aptamers in the channel of the device, the GFET can operate as a biosensor. When various levels of IL-6 were introduced into the GFET device, the target proteins bind to the aptamers causing a change in the charge carrier concentration. The device is able to monitor in real-time the levels of IL-6 by observing the drain-to-source current of the GFET which correlates to the IL-6 concentration being measured. The device implemented contains an integrated current meter which is one of the building blocks for creating a wearable electronic biosensor.

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