Single cell in-vivo carbon nanotube device with multimodal sensing potential

Abstract

Single walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) field effect transistors (NTFETs) are quickly becoming the foundation for bioelectronic sensors. We describe a multimodal NTFET device that could be used as a real time single cell biosensor with the potential for chemical, optical and electrical sensing capabilities. This device utilizes the natural movement of a cell through the trench of a NTFET to provide a working cell-SWNT interaction where the nanotube is suspended. The use of individual suspended SWNTs in lieu of non-suspended SWNTs in our device provides the basis for an in vivo NTFET multimodal single cell biosensor. © 2013 Copyright 2013 Author(s). This article is distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.