  Silicon nanochannel field effect transistor (FET) biosensors are one of the
most promising technologies in the development of highly sensitive and
label-free analyte detection for cancer diagnostics. With their exceptional
electrical properties and small dimensions, silicon nanochannels are ideally
suited for extraordinarily high sensitivity. In fact, the high
surface-to-volume ratios of these systems make single molecule detection
possible. Further, FET biosensors offer the benefits of high speed, low cost,
and high yield manufacturing, without sacrificing the sensitivity typical for
traditional optical methods in diagnostics. Top down manufacturing methods
leverage advantages in Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS)
technologies, making richly multiplexed sensor arrays a reality. Here, we
discuss the fabrication and use of silicon nanochannel FET devices as
biosensors for breast cancer diagnosis and monitoring.
