这个新的探针是一种纳米级场效应晶体管（nanoFET），当它接触或插入细胞时能够检测到电信号的变化。以前的纳米级晶体管局限于二维，只能检测到细胞外部的电信号变化；而nanoFET具有的三维造型以及极小的尺寸。此外，nanoFET探针表面覆盖着脂双层，它能够融入细胞膜，使得探针末端能够进入细胞并监测胞内活动，而不影响胞内结构和活性。
探针进入细胞示意图（图片来源：Charles Lieber）
利伯及其同事目前正利用该探针研究神经元，期望能够实时监测细胞内特殊蛋白的活性。利伯表示，虽然nanoFET制造复杂，但是不久它就会发展成一种普遍应用的工具。
美国哈佛大学纳米科学家查尔斯•利伯（Charles Lieber）近在《科学》杂志报道了一种新的病毒级探针，该探针使得科学家终实现了对细胞内活动的监测，却不破坏细胞膜。
乔治亚理工学材料学家王中林说：“从技术角度和胞内生物学角度来看，该工具将产生巨大影响。”（科学网 任春晓/编译）
相关工具：纳米级场效应晶体管（nanoFET）
完成人：查尔斯•利伯课题组
实验室：哈佛大学化学与化学生物学系 哈佛大学工程与应用科学学
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《科学》发表论文摘要（英文）
Science 13 August 2010:
Vol. 329. no. 5993 pp. 830 - 834
DOI: 10.1126/science.1192033
Reports
Three-Dimensional Flexible Nanoscale Field-Effect Transistors as Localized Bioprobes
Bozhi Tian1* Tzahi Cohen-Karni2* Quan Qing1 Xiaojie Duan1 Ping Xie1 Charles M. Lieber12
Nanoelectronic devices offer substantial potential for interrogating biological systems although nearly all work has focused on planar device designs. We have overcome this limitation through synthetic integration of a nanoscale field-effect transistor (nanoFET) device at the tip of an acute-angle kinked silicon nanowire where nanoscale connections are made by the arms of the kinked nanostructure and remote mult interconnects allow three-dimensional (3D) probe presentation. The acute-angle probe geometry was designed and synthesized by controlling cis versus trans crystal conformations between adjacent kinks and the nanoFET was localized through modulation doping. 3D nanoFET probes exhibited conductance and sensitivity in aqueous solution independent of large mechanical deflections and demonstrated high pH sensitivity. Additionally 3D nanoprobes modified with phospholipid bs can enter single cells to allow robust recording of intracellular potentials.
