Review—Nanopipette Applications as Sensors, Electrodes, and Probes: A Study on Recent Developments

Abstract

Pipettes with nano-sized openings, also known as nanopipettes, are frequently used in biotechnology as sensors, intracellular injectors, or probes for microscopy. Their small tips in nano-scale conical geometry and easy fabrication make nanopipettes a preferred and alternative tool for sensor applications. In this review, we start with a brief introduction on fabrication and characterization of nanopipettes as well as sensing paradigms. Then we provide up-to-date publications mostly focusing on recent developments and examples of sensor applications of nanopipettes. An additional part is dedicated to probe and electrode applications of nanopipettes because of their increasing use in various areas. The majority of applications included in this review covers single molecule detection, nanoparticle detection, and selective sensing experiments.