Carbon-based nanoprobes for cell biology

Schrlau, Michael G.; Bau, Haim H.

doi:10.1007/s10404-009-0458-x

Cited by 15 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 70 publications

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“…These and other issues were reviewed in more detail. 3 The advent of nanotechnology has led to the development of new tools for cell surgery, such as nanoneedles for intracellular injection of material and nanoelectrodes for studying cell signaling. Carbon-based nanostructures, such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs), are particularly useful for probing cells because they are nanoscopic in size, have hollow geometry, and have tunable surface characteristics.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Carbon Nanopipettes for Cell Surgery

Schrlau

Bau

2010

JALA: Journal of the Association for Laboratory Automation

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C arbon nanopipettes (CNPs), nanoprobes that integrate carbon nanotubes (CNTs) into larger easily maneuverable devices, provide a viable means of performing cell surgery with carbon-based nanostructures. Taking advantage of the nanoscopic tubular geometry and unique material properties of CNTs, CNPs facilitate minimally invasive cell probing, low-volume intracellular fluid injection, sensitive electrical measurements of cell signals, and other unique analytical abilities not possible with traditional glass-based cell probing technology. In this technology review, we highlight the cell probing applications where CNPs were used as nanoneedles for intracellular injection and nanoelectrodes for cell electrophysiology. Besides summarizing the proven capabilities of CNPs, the intent of this review is to encourage further development of CNTbased devices and related nanotechnology for novel cell probing and bioanalytical applications. ( JALA 2010;15:145-51) INTRODUCTIONRecently, there has been a growing interest across diverse fields of science, medicine, and engineering in devices capable of probing and manipulating materials at the nanoscale.1 For instance, in cell biology, nano-sized devices can probe cells and subcellular environments with minimal intrusion to perform nanosurgery.2 These activities include modifying cells (via material injection and removal), sensing cell processes (with optical, biochemical, mechanical, and electrical means), and studying cell structure (by manipulation of organelles and molecules).Glass-based nanoprobes, such as glass micropipettes, are currently used to probe intracellular environments. Glass capillaries are pulled into glass micropipettes with predetermined taper geometry and tip dimensions depending on their intended application. For example, glass-based injectors have short tapers with micrometer-sized tip diameters to facilitate fluid transport, whereas glass-based, electrolyte-filled electrodes have long tapers with tip diameters in the hundreds of nanometers. However, there are several issues associated with glass-based cell probes, such as having fragile tips that break easily when encountering a hard surface, being limited to single functions (e.g., injector or electrode, not both), and having relatively large tips that tend to damage cells and organelles easily. These and other issues were reviewed in more detail. 3The advent of nanotechnology has led to the development of new tools for cell surgery, such as nanoneedles for intracellular injection of material and nanoelectrodes for studying cell signaling. Carbon-based nanostructures, such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs), are particularly useful for probing cells because they are nanoscopic in size, have hollow geometry, and have tunable surface characteristics. CNTs are slender (high length to diameter ratio) and thin walled, possess remarkable mechanical and electrical properties, 4,5 and facilitate the transmission and storage of liquids.6,7 Several groups have used a variety of methods to attach CNTs to macroscopic d...

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…3 The carbon nanopipette (CNP) (Fig. 1), developed by our group, eliminates many of the obstacles that have prevented CNTs from being used as cell probes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Carbon Nanopipettes for Cell Surgery

Schrlau

Bau

2010

JALA: Journal of the Association for Laboratory Automation

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“…These pipes possess small diameters ranging from 20 nm to microns and have stiffer tips [14]. Carbon-based nanoprobes can also be used as carbon nanopipettes for nanoprint-ing and drop dispensing [15]. Moreover, micropipettes and micromanipulators are used to place micron size beads at designated positions for microfluidic applications [16,17].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Position-resolved Surface Characterization and Nanofabrication Using an OpticalMicroscopeCombined with a Nanopipette/Quartz Tuning Fork Atomic Force Microscope

Jhe

Sung

et al. 2014

Nano-Micro Lett

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Abstract:In this work, we introduce position-resolved surface characterization and nanofabrication using an optical microscope (OM) combined with a nanopipette-based quartz tuning fork atomic force microscope (nanopipette/QTF-AFM) system. This system is used to accurately determine substrate position and nanoscale phenomena under ambient conditions. Solutions consisting of 5 nm Au nanoparticles, nanowires, and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) are deposited onto the substrate through the nano/microaperture of a pulled pipette. Nano/microscale patterning is performed using a nanopipette/QTF-AFM, while position is resolved by monitoring the substrate with a custom OM. With this tool, one can perform surface characterization (force spectroscopy/microscopy) using the quartz tuning fork (QTF) sensor. Nanofabrication is achieved by accurately positioning target materials on the surface, and on-demand delivery and patterning of various solutions for molecular architecture.

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“…The electronbeam-based and the focused-ion-beam-based lithography allow high-resolution fabrication of various nanomaterials but the required high particle energy and long writing time limit their applications to nanodevice fabrication. On the other hand, the pen-type nanofabrication method such as the dip-pen nanolithography exhibits the advantages of higher throughput and lower energy consumption than the beam-based methods along with previous contributions of nano-dispensing [12][13][14][15] and scanning probe lithography methods [16][17][18]. However, it also suffers from both lack of continuous writing capability and limited ink selectivity.…”

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confidence: 99%

Nanomeniscus-induced delivery of liquid solutions for diverse nanofiber fabrication

Kim

Kwon

et al. 2015

Nano Convergence

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Nanomaterial-delivery fabrication expects high-potential impacts on nanoscience, technology and industry, but still faces limited applicability mainly due to high-field requirement for liquid delivery, complicated intermediate processes, and narrow ink selectivity. Here, we demonstrates a simple, non-template, non-contact and electric field-free fabrication of diverse nanofibers. The process consists of continuous, meniscus-assisted delivery of liquid solutions through a nanoapertured nozzle in ambient conditions, followed by subsequent evaporation of liquid and aggregation of nanoparticle residues. For example, the carbon-nanotube nanofibers of 500 nm diameter exhibit a high shear modulus of ~1.5 GPa and current density up to 104 A/cm2. The results provide a unique, universal and versatile tool with wide selectivity in both ink and substrate.

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Carbon-based nanoprobes for cell biology

Cited by 15 publications

References 70 publications

Carbon Nanopipettes for Cell Surgery

Carbon Nanopipettes for Cell Surgery

Position-resolved Surface Characterization and Nanofabrication Using an OpticalMicroscopeCombined with a Nanopipette/Quartz Tuning Fork Atomic Force Microscope

Nanomeniscus-induced delivery of liquid solutions for diverse nanofiber fabrication

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