Organic field-effect transistor for label-free dopamine sensing

We describe a potentiometric sensor based on Electrolyte-Gated Organic Field-Effect Transistor (EGOFET) for “in vitro” detection of dopamine. The sensing element of this device resides at the Au gate–aqueous solution interface by means of a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) composed by cysteamine and 4-formylphenyl boronic acid. The covalent and selective adsorption of dopamine induces a surface dipole potential which shifts the electrode work function and modulates the double layer capacitance. As a result, our device is capable to detect dopamine up to pico-molar concentration showing higher sensitivity with respect to other approaches. For this reason the interface engineering of our EGOFET gate is a promising route for diagnostic applications.

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► We describe a new EGOFET capable to sense dopamine.
► Interface engineering of gate electrode merged with EGOFET transduction provide a powerful sensing approach.
► EGOFET sensitivity is effective down to pico-molar concentration of dopamine.