Optically transparent vertical silicon nanowire arrays for live-cell imaging

Journal of Nanobiotechnology

Andriy Goychuk¹  Erwin Frey¹  Ralf Kemkemer²  Joachim P. Spatz²  Marina A. George³  Nicolas H. Voelcker⁴  Roey Elnathan⁴  Jennifer Young⁵  Andrew W. Holle⁵  Alon Kosloff⁶  Omri Heifler⁶  Fernando Patolsky⁶ 

[1]Arnold Sommerfeld Center for Theoretical Physics and Center for NanoScience, Department of Physics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München

[2]Department of Cellular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research

[3]Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Monash University

[4]Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University

[5]Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore

[6]School of Chemistry, The Raymond and Beverly Sackler Faculty of Exact Sciences, Tel-Aviv University

关键词: Nanowires;    Cell–material interface;    Live-cell phase-contrast imaging;    Silicon;    Glass substrate;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12951-021-00795-7

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Abstract Programmable nano-bio interfaces driven by tuneable vertically configured nanostructures have recently emerged as a powerful tool for cellular manipulations and interrogations. Such interfaces have strong potential for ground-breaking advances, particularly in cellular nanobiotechnology and mechanobiology. However, the opaque nature of many nanostructured surfaces makes non-destructive, live-cell characterization of cellular behavior on vertically aligned nanostructures challenging to observe. Here, a new nanofabrication route is proposed that enables harvesting of vertically aligned silicon (Si) nanowires and their subsequent transfer onto an optically transparent substrate, with high efficiency and without artefacts. We demonstrate the potential of this route for efficient live-cell phase contrast imaging and subsequent characterization of cells growing on vertically aligned Si nanowires. This approach provides the first opportunity to understand dynamic cellular responses to a cell-nanowire interface, and thus has the potential to inform the design of future nanoscale cellular manipulation technologies.

【 授权许可】

Unknown