Platform for immobilization and observation of subcellular processes

Abstract

A method of immobilizing matter for imaging that includes providing an array of nanofibers and directing matter to the array of the nanofibers. The matter is immobilized when contacting at least three nanofibers of the array of nanofibers simultaneously. Adjacent nanofibers in the array of nanofibers may be separated by a pitch as great as 100 microns. The immobilized matter on the array of nanofibers may then be imaged. In some examples, the matter may be cell matter, such as protoplasts.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A structure for immobilizing cell matter comprising:
 a channel for delivery of a fluid containing cell matter; and   an array of nanofibers positioned within the channel having a pitch between adjacent nanofibers in the array of nanofibers ranging from 3 microns to 20 microns, wherein each of the nanofibers in the array of nanofibers has a tip diameter of 150 nm or less, and said each of the nanofibers has an increasing diameter from the tip diameter to a base of said each of the nanofibers, wherein a combination of the pitch between said adjacent nanofibers and the increasing diameter of said each of the nanofibers provides dimensions that physically engage cell matter from the fluid containing cell matter that is delivered to the array of nanofibers when the cell matter is in simultaneous contact with at least three nanofibers of the array of nanofibers.   
     
     
         2 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the pitch between the adjacent nanofibers in the array of nanofibers is varied. 
     
     
         3 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the cell matter is protoplasts, and the pitch between the adjacent nanofibers to engage the protoplasts on the array of nanofibers ranges from 5 microns to 20 microns, or the cell matter is yeast cells, and the pitch between the adjacent nanofibers to engage the yeast cells on the array of nanofibers ranges from 2 microns to 5 microns. 
     
     
         4 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the tip diameter ranges from 10 nm to 100 nm, and the base of said each of the nanofibers has a base diameter of 350 nm or less. 
     
     
         5 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein said each of said nanofibers in the array of nanofibers has an aspect ratio greater than 50:1. 
     
     
         6 . A structure for analyzing matter response to stimuli comprising:
 a channel for delivery of a fluid containing matter; and   an array of nanofibers including a first portion that is present at an opening of the channel and a second portion that is present at the exit of the channel, wherein the first portion of the array of nanofibers has a pitch between adjacent nanofibers to physically engage matter from the fluid containing matter being traversed through the channel from the opening to the exit, and the second portion of the nanofibers provides at least one electrodes that is physically separated from sidewalls of the channel.   
     
     
         7 . The structure of  claim 6 , wherein the fluid containing matter is a fluid containing cell matter, and the matter being physically engaged from the fluid containing matter is cell matter. 
     
     
         8 . The structure of  claim 7 , wherein the pitch between adjacent nanofibers in the first portion of the array of nanofibers ranges from 5 microns to 20 microns, the tip diameter of each nanofiber in the first portion of the array of nanofibers ranges from 10 nm to 100 nm, and the base of said each nanofiber in the first portion of the array is as great as 350 nm. 
     
     
         9 . The structure of  claim 7 , wherein at least one nanofiber in the second portion of the array of nanofibers includes a base in direct contact with an interconnect, a dielectric sheath present on a nanofiber sidewall, and an exposed nanofiber tip of carbon, wherein the exposed nanofiber tip provides an active probe site of the at least one electrode. 
     
     
         10 . The structure of  claim 7 , wherein the dielectric sheath comprises a photoresist material, silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The structure of  claim 9 , wherein the interconnect comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of tungsten (W), molybdenum (Mo), tantalum (Ta), niobium (Nb), platinum (Pt), aluminum (Al) and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The structure of  claim 9 , wherein the tip of the nanofiber that provides the active probe site of the at least one electrode has a diameter ranging from 3 nm to 150 nm, and a length as great as 200 microns. 
     
     
         13 . The structure of  claim 9 , wherein the tip of the nanofiber that provides the active probe site of the at least one electrode is separated from a base of the channel. 
     
     
         14 . The structure of  claim 9 , wherein the array of nanofibers comprises carbon nanofibers.