Carbon-based nanoprobes for cell nanosurgery & biological applications / Michael G. Schrlau.

Format:

Book

Manuscript

Microformat

Thesis/Dissertation

Author/Creator:

Schrlau, Michael G.

Contributor:

Bau, Haim H., advisor.

University of Pennsylvania.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Penn dissertations--Mechanical engineering and applied mechanics.

Mechanical engineering and applied mechanics--Penn dissertations.

Local Subjects:

Penn dissertations--Mechanical engineering and applied mechanics.

Mechanical engineering and applied mechanics--Penn dissertations.

Physical Description:

xvi 183 pages : illustrations (some color) ; 29 cm

Production:

2009.

Summary:

Medical and biological science aims to study the intimate processes of living cells with minimal impact or inhibition of their normal activity. To this end, one can envision how tools with nanoscopic features would be able to minimally interact with cellular processes at a sub-cellular or even molecular level. Nanoscale carbon-based structures, such as carbon nanotubes and nanopipes, are one such nanoscopic structure gaining increased attention for nanosurgery and nanomedicine applications because of their unique and superior properties.

The abilities and shortcomings of previous carbon-based nanoprobes motivated the development of an alternative nanosurgery tool, the carbon nanopipette. Carbon nanopipettes integrate carbon nanopipes into the tips of pulled glass capillaries without assembly, thereby making the process amendable to mass production. An electrically-conductive carbon film coats the entire length of the glass micropipette's inner lumen, facilitating electrical interfacing and fluid transport through the nanoscopic carbon tip. Since carbon nanopipettes incorporate glass micropipettes, standard cell physiology equipment can be used to maneuver the probe to deliver materials to cells and sense cellular processes.

Carbon nanopipettes are manufactured without assembly and in quantity. Their composite carbon structure enables them to bend without breaking. Yet, carbon nanopipettes are rigid enough to penetrate into the interior of cells without causing them harm. Carbon nanopipettes are capable of concurrent fluid injection and electrical recording. Highlighting these capabilities, carbon nanopipettes injected calcium-mobilizing second messengers to identify signaling pathways in breast cancer cells and electrically recorded the intracellular response of hippocampal neurons to stimuli. Carbon nanopipettes offer a novel yet viable means of widely employing carbon-based nanoprobes in cell nanosurgery, medicine, and beyond.

Notes:

Adviser: Haim H. Bau.

Thesis (Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics) -- University of Pennsylvania, 2009.

Includes bibliographical references.

Local Notes:

University Microfilms order no.: 3363658.