Bioconjugation of Silicon Nanowires (SiNW) and Quantum Dots (QD) for Intracellular Biosensing

The functionalization of silicon nanowires (SiNW) with metal nanoparticles is expected to demonstrate interesting electronic properties and cooperative interactions that may have potential applications in sensing, optoelectronics, and catalysis. Biomolecule-directed strategies show great potential in functionalizing nanomaterials and assembling nanostructures because of their unique properties such as specificity, versatility, and their multivalent nature. The objective of this project is to develop biomolecule-directed strategies and protocols to functionalize and condition SiNW as sensors to detect biomolecules. Novel heterostructures consisting of SiNW and different nanoparticles will be assembled by means of DNA hybridizations or protein-protein interactions. The electrochemical and optical properties of the functionalized SiNW will be thoroughly investigated.