New generation of ultrasensitive label- free optical Si nanowire-based biosensors

We demonstrate the realization of the first label-free optical biosensor based on the room temperature luminescence of silicon nanowires (NWs) tested for the selective detection of C- reactive protein in human serum. High aspect ratio Si NW arrays used as sensing interface, are synthesized by a fast, low-cost and Si industrially compatible approach. Si NW optical biosensors are fast and offer a broad concentration dynamic range that can be tuned according to different applications. Moreover, the platform is endowed with a high selectivity towards the target analyte and a sensitivity down to the fM limit of detection, opening the route towards non-invasive analysis in bio-fluids such as saliva.