Variation of individual cells within a population during the time has made single cell studies both attractive and necessary to researchers. Minimally intrusive probes are required for long-term experiments on single cells, especially for intercellular interrogation. Carbon nanomaterials with their unique properties are excellent candidates for multi-task robotic intracellular probes. We collaborate with professor Gary Friedman (ECE) group  and Dr. Zulfiya Orybayeva (Dept. of Surgery),  to develop and test carbon nanopipette cellular probes that are capable of collecting a variety of information such as optical, electrical and chemical signals. In addition, we use these probes for transferring miniature amounts of fluids and molecular materials in a highly localized region for analyzing or stimulating a variety of responses at the level of individual cells and even sub-cellular organelles.

Carbon Nanopipette is a carbon layer deposited glass pipette with a carbon tip of 20-200nm in diameter. We use this lab-made pipette as a minimally intrusive single cell investigation probe that could carry out multiple intracellular measurements.