Introducing nucleic acids into mammalian cells is a crucial step to elucidate biochemical pathways, and to modify gene expression and cellular development in immortalized cells, primary cells, and stem cells. Current transfection technologies are time consuming and limited by the size of genetic cargo, the inefficient introduction of test molecules into large populations of target cells, and the cytotoxicity of the techniques. A novel method of introducing genes and biomolecules into tens of thousands of mammalian cells has been developed through an array of aligned hollow carbon nanotubes, manufactured by template-based nanofabrication processes, to achieve rapid high-efficiency transfer with low cytotoxicity. The utilization of carbon nanotube arrays for gene transfection overcomes molecular weight limits of current technologies and can be adapted to deliver drugs or proteins in addition to nucleic acids.

No abstract

A multifunctional nanofluidic device consisting of an array of aligned carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was fabricated. A template-based method was employed to manufacture the CNT array without the need for nanoassembly. The CNT synthesis was done inside the pores of anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes using a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process. The tips of the CNTs were partially exposed through a sodium hydroxide etching process. The wall thickness and inner and outer diameters of the resultant CNTs were determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Fluid flow through the CNT array was observed and the pressure drop across the membrane was measured as a function of fluid flow rate and CNT inner diameter. Nanochannel wettability was then evaluated as a function of carbon deposition and wet etching time. The work demonstrates the feasibility of creating a device, consisting of an array of vertically-aligned CNTs, capable of simultaneously measuring electrical signals and transferring fluid through conductive nanotubes.

No abstract