Abstract
Label-free biological detection using ion sensitive field effect transistors (ISFET) in high ionic strength solution is known hampered by the charge-screening effect of the electrical double layer. Our study adopts a detection scheme with CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) ISFETs operated at frequencies higher than the ion-strength-dependent cut-off frequency. Measured results show a high pH sensitivity of more than 50 mV/pH; in addition, detection of direct DNA hybridization under high ionic strength is also successfully demonstrated in this study.