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An electrochemical detector array to study cell biology on the nanoscale

Andrew F Dias, Gregor Dernick, Vicente Valero, Ming G Yong, Conrad D James, Harold G Craighead and Manfred Lindau1

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Nanobiotechnology is a field that utilizes the techniques of nano- and microfabrication to study biosystems or to use biological material and principles to build new devices. As an example we discuss the development of a nanofabricated electrochemical detector array that reveals the spatio-temporal dynamics of exocytosis in single chromaffin cells. In a quantal release event a single vesicle fuses with the plasma membrane releasing its contents through the fusion pore. The time-resolved amperometric currents measured by the individual electrodes detecting different fractions of the released molecules allow determination of the time course as well as localization of quantal events. Such a device may be applicable to study the correlation of exocytotic events with signalling events that could be simultaneously monitored by fluorescence microscopy.


PACS

87.85.Qr Nanotechnologies-design

87.16.D- Membranes, bilayers, and vesicles

87.17.-d Cell processes

87.85.Va Micromachining

82.80.Fk Electrochemical methods

Subjects

Biological physics

Chemical physics and physical chemistry

Dates

Issue 3 (June 2002)

Received 3 December 2001, in final form 30 April 2002

Published 23 May 2002



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