Hardware-software design of a smart sensor for fully-electronic DNA hybridization detection

The paper describes the design of a smart sensor for label-free detection of DNA hybridization. The sensor is based on a direct electrical transduction principle: it measures impedance variation at the interface between a bio-functionalized electrode and a solution containing the analyte. The smart sensor includes a complete signal conditioning and processing subsystem based on an embedded /spl mu/-controller. We outline the sensor architecture, and we describe in detail board-level integration as well as hardware and software implementation and design choices. The accuracy of our embedded solution has been evaluated by comparing it with a high-cost laboratory setup. Moreover, we provide measurements of real sensing structures which demonstrate the functionality of our system in the field.