New Nano-transistor can direct detection cell internal

According to the United States physicist inbo, United Kingdom "nature" magazine website reported that Harvard University chemists and engineers to manufacture a new v-nanometer transistors, outer membrane covered with a layer of Phospholipid bilayer layer that can very easily into the cell internal testing, and does not cause any visible damage cells.

This new device called a nano-level field effect sensor or nano-FETs.

It is smaller than many viruses. Human cell diameter range is approximately 10 microns of neurons to 50 microns of cardiac cells, and the new sensor can measure 5 microns in diameter of cell.

Nano-FETs with several series, total is less than 50 nano models, their Nanowires needle diameter only 15 nanometers.

The current is used to record the nerve cells and other cells within the electrical signal of glass pipette just microns, with an electrode, the pipette in cell membrane records electrical signals.

But this technology is far from ideal, leading the research in Massachusetts, Cambridge and Harvard chemist Charles · column Bo said, pipette is bulky, the work often damage cells.

And nano-FETs appearance coated with a layer of Phospholipid bilayer membrane, and the composition of the cell membrane is the same, through the cell membrane fusion, effortlessly into cells, and cells within the devouring a virus or bacteria in the process.

This means that insert Nano FETs little left wound, it can enter and remain in the cell, and continuous testing.

Nano-FETs with a 3-d structure of flexible, have two covered Nanowires as v-60 degree angle fixed on top, and the main part of the 120-degree angle connection, work with current through the nanometer transistors.

It can be used to detect changes in intracellular ionic and electronic signals in nerve cells, particularly; can also be fixed in receptor or ligand, detection of biochemical processes within a single cell. The research team demonstrates the use of nano-FETs, piercing a single culture of embryonic chick heart cells to 2.3 Hertz frequency recorded a series of voltage spikes, and cells beat rhythm.

Researchers said that this was the first 10 years in cell internal testing of semiconductor devices, is a new research methods in cells.

His group has equipment for nerve cells, at the same time being and MIT research team cooperation, research and Nanowires to link together the growth of the organization.

Column Bo said, their long-term goal is to be digitized and biological research to produce artificial tissue, implantation of Nanowires to enhance medical monitoring results.