CMOS biochips for hypothesis-driven DNA analysis

High-throughput and highly multiplexed DNA detection platforms require complex and generally bulky instrumentation to perform sensing, signal conditioning and quantification. Integrated CMOS biosensor arrays (CMOS biochips) have the ability to miniaturize such platforms into portable and low cost point-of-care (PoC) devices, that can be instrumental for the adoption of genomics test in molecular diagnostics (MDx). This paper focuses on CMOS biochips for detecting specific DNA sequences in a sample (i.e., hypothesis-driven analysis) employing DNA hybridization arrays. It examines various aspects of CMOS biochips technology including detection modalities, pixel architectures, ease-of-integration into VLSI processes, and limits of performance.