A new concept for the development of semiconductor field-effect biosensors by modification of a gate surface with tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) nanotubes, serving as enzyme nanocarrier, is presented. TMV nanotubes enable an immobilization of a high amount of enzymes without substantial loss of their activity, resulting in an enhanced biosensor performance. This approach has been experimentally demonstrated by realizing a capacitive field-effect penicillin biosensor using TMV nanotubes functionalized with the enzyme penicillinase as model system.
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