High-sensitivity and label-free identification of a transgenic genome using a terahertz meta-biosensor.

A high-sensitivity and label-free method for identifying a transgenic plant genome is highly desirable in plant biotechnology. Here, we present a terahertz (THz) metamaterial (MM)-based biosensor that comprises a planar array of gold split-ring (SR) resonators capable of sensing a considerable shift in the resonance frequency due to the change of the dielectric environment on the MM chip. The meta-sensor is employed to detect transgenic tomato genome DNAs by THz time-domain spectroscopy. The experimental results were confirmed by finite-element modeling through varying the thickness and dielectric constant of the DNA overlayer. Consequently, high-efficiency and label-free discrimination between the wild-type and transgenic genome DNA was achieved.