Download or read book Fabrication of Multibore Carbon Nanopipettes Using a Template based Nanomanufacturing Process written by Ayomipo Arowosola and published by . This book was released on 2015 with total page 178 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Currently, cancer accounts for nearly 1 of every 4 deaths in the United States which rates it as the second most common cause of death in the US, exceeded only by heart diseases. The detection, prevention and treatment of these death-causing diseases have necessitated and led to the development of novel tools for interfacing with single live cells -- intracellular cell physiology. A major challenge, preventing the realization of effective and efficient intracellular physiology, is the lack of minimally invasive, nanoscale electrodes capable of probing cells without causing cell damage or death. Previous studies have succeeded in fabricating single nanoscale electrodes suitable for cell probing, but in this research, we introduce the controllable fabrication of Multibore Carbon Nanopipettes (MCNPs) -- nanoscale probes with multiple, independent hollow carbon nanoscale electrodes within one very small tip -- in three stages: (i) forming templates by pulling micropipettes from theta glass capillaries (pipette pulling); (ii) selectively depositing carbon via CVD on the lumen walls of the micropipette (carbon deposition); and (iii) exposing the two carbon nanostructures formed at the micropipette tip with selective wet-etching (carbon exposure). These MCNPs, suitable for cell probing, also incorporate a multifunctionality that is yet to be seen in existing microelectrodes. Here, we present the step-by-step, repeatable methodology in fabricating MCNPs, the governing parameters at different stages of fabrication and the effects of varying these parameters. We establish that the MCNP geometry can be defined at the pulling stage, where the taper length and diameter of the pipette have an inverse relationship; carbon thickness is defined at the carbon deposition stage and the carbon exposure stage defines the exposed carbon length. We also showed the capability of our MCNPs for intracellular injection by demonstrating their effectiveness in fluid transport and delivery. The fabrication technique offers a repeatable and low cost process of manufacturing MCNPs, thereby making it a commercially viable nanomanufacturing technique that will enable numerous intracellular applications beyond cell probing. Finally, the continuous development of the MCNPs for these numerous intracellular applications may bring about a reform in single cell analysis, biomedical research and disease pathology research."--Abstract.

Download or read book Efficient Template based Nanomanufacturing of Carbon Nanotube Arrays for Cell Applications written by Adeel Ahmed and published by . This book was released on 2017 with total page 216 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Carbon nanotube arrays have been found to be highly effective at carrying out intracellular delivery of cargo at high efficiencies while ensuring cell viability. Template based chemical vapor deposition is a commonly used process to fabricate these arrays. However, current etching methods used to expose carbon nanotubes from templates are expensive and time consuming. The high cost and time-consuming processes currently required to fabricate such arrays are factors which limit the commercialization of this technology and inhibit scope for larger research programs. In this thesis, alternative nanofabrication methods were explored with the aim of making the fabrication of CNT arrays cost effective and efficient. Mechanical polishing coupled with wet chemical etching is shown as a feasible alternative option to dry etching. The effects of process variables on physical properties of CNT arrays have been studied and quantified in order to demonstrate control over the process. Scanning Electron Microscopy has been used to qualitatively understand the differences between CNT arrays fabricated using dry etching and the alternative process. Cell culture has been demonstrated on the CNT arrays and the potential to use 3D printing to fabricate a nanofluidic device is also demonstrated. The alternative process can save etching time by 97% while maintaining a similar level of control over the process. This study, therefore, opens the path to quicker production of CNT arrays at low cost for biomedical use."--Abstract.