Developing an Improved Biosensor Material

New Organic Semiconducting Material Developed for Next-Generation Biosensors

An international research team, led by scientists at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and the University of Manchester, has made a significant breakthrough in the field of organic semiconductors. They have developed a new material that outperforms existing options for building the next generation of biosensors.

The new material is based on polymers called polythiophenes, with chemical groups called glycols attached in precisely controlled positions. This innovative design allows specific ions and biochemical compounds to permeate into the material, modulating its electrochemical semiconducting properties.

The material is designed for use in devices called organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs). The fluctuation in the electrochemical properties of the polymer serves as the output signal of the OECT. This property makes it an ideal candidate for biosensing applications.

Controlling the locations of the glycol groups was a key aspect of the breakthrough. The team overcame critical challenges in developing this polymer, specifically related to controlling the locations of chemical groups in the polymer's structure.

Iain McCulloch of the KAUST team, who is also attached to the University of Oxford in the U.K., is excited about the progress made on the polymer synthesis. He and his team used sophisticated computational chemistry modeling to aid in the design of the polymer.

To monitor the structure of the polymers, the team employed specialized x-ray scattering analysis and scanning tunneling electron microscopy. These techniques revealed how the location of the glycol groups affected the material's microstructure and electronic properties.

The new polymer is being tested in specific biosensor devices. As the research group moves from laboratory demonstrations towards real-world applications, they are now focusing on improving the stability of their polymers and the sensors built from them.

The research paper detailing this development has been published and can be accessed via the DOI 10.1021/jacs.1c03516. This new organic semiconducting material promises to revolutionize the field of biosensing, paving the way for more accurate and reliable diagnostic tools.