Progress Toward Carbon-Nanotube Arrays for Probing Cells

Progress has been reported in research oriented toward the goal of fabricating arrays of interconnected single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) that could serve as probes for measuring localized events within living cells. As used here, “interconnected” signifies mechanically and electrically connected to patterned metal films (interconnections) that lead to contact pads, which, in turn, enable electrical connection to external electronic instrumentation. This research poses a high economic risk because it entails pushing several technological disciplines beyond their present limits. There is no previously reported combination of fabrication techniques and processes for producing carbon nanotubes that have the required properties at the required positions and orientations on patterned metal films.