Liquid-Gated Field-Effect Transistor-Based Biosensor for Uric Acid Detection

Monitoring uric acid (UA) concentration is crucial for human health, enabling early detection and prevention of metabolic disorders as well as assessing renal function and overall metabolic balance. Herein, we developed a field-effect transistor (FET)-based UA biosensor using hydrothermally synthesized vertical zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods (NRs) and uricase. The fabricated FET biosensor was tested in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) at increasing UA concentrations to evaluate its biosensing performance. The FET biosensor yields a sensitivity of 12.45 μA·mM−1·cm−2, covering a dynamic range of 0.05–2.75 mM. The calculated detection limit was ~0.0043 mM. The improved sensing performance results in a substantial enhancement of both detection sensitivity and limit of detection compared to the traditional lateral electrode setup. Additionally, selectivity, storage stability, fabrication reproducibility, and applicability for serum UA detection were evaluated. Overall, the vertical electrode configuration of the UA biosensor has the potential to be further extended for the sensitive detection of additional biomarkers.