Silicon-Based Biosensors: A Critical Review of Silicon’s Role in Enhancing Biosensing Performance

Waqar Muhammad; Jilong Song; Sehyeon Kim; Falguni Ahmed; Eunseo Cho; Huiseop Lee

doi:10.3390/bios15020119

journal article Open Access Feb 18, 2025

Silicon-Based Biosensors: A Critical Review of Silicon’s Role in Enhancing Biosensing Performance

Waqar Muhammad

Jilong Song Sehyeon Kim Falguni Ahmed

Eunseo Cho Huiseop Lee

Biosensors Vol. 15 No. 2 pp. 119 · MDPI AG

View at Publisher Save 10.3390/bios15020119

Abstract

This review into recent advancements in silicon-based technology, with a particular emphasis on the biomedical applications of silicon sensors. Owing to their diminutive size, high sensitivity, and intrinsic compatibility with electronic systems, silicon-based sensors have found widespread utilization across healthcare, industrial, and environmental monitoring domains. In the realm of biomedical sensing, silicon has demonstrated significant potential to enhance human health outcomes while simultaneously driving progress in microfabrication techniques for multifunctional device development. The review systematically examines the versatile roles of silicon in the fabrication of electrodes, sensing channels, and substrates. Silicon electrodes are widely used in electrochemical biosensors for glucose monitoring and neural activity recording, while sensing channels in field-effect transistor biosensors enable the detection of cancer biomarkers and small molecules. Porous silicon substrates are applied in optical biosensors for label-free protein and pathogen detection. Key challenges in this field, including the interaction of silicon with biomolecules, the economic barriers to miniaturization, and issues related to signal stability, are critically analyzed. Proposed strategies to address these challenges and improve sensor functionality and reliability are also discussed. Furthermore, the article explores emerging developments in silicon-based biosensors, particularly their integration into wearable technologies. The pivotal role of artificial intelligence (AI) in enhancing the performance, functionality, and real-time capabilities of these sensors is also highlighted. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current state, challenges, and future directions in the field of silicon-based biomedical sensing technologies.

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Details

Published: Feb 18, 2025
Vol/Issue: 15(2)
Pages: 119
License: View

Authors

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Waqar Muhammad