12 research outputs found
A new diamond biosensor with integrated graphitic microchannels for detecting quantal exocytic events from chromaffin cells
The quantal release of catecholamines from neuroendocrine cells is a key
mechanism which has been investigated with a broad range of materials and
devices, among which carbon-based materials such as carbon fibers, diamond-like
carbon, carbon nanotubes and nanocrystalline diamond. In the present work we
demonstrate that a MeV-ion-microbeam lithographic technique can be successfully
employed for the fabrication of an all-carbon miniaturized cellular bio-sensor
based on graphitic micro-channels embedded in a single-crystal diamond matrix.
The device was functionally characterized for the in vitro recording of quantal
exocytic events from single chromaffin cells, with high sensitivity and
signal-to-noise ratio, opening promising perspectives for the realization of
monolithic all-carbon cellular biosensors
Diamond-based sensors for in vitro cellular radiobiology: Simultaneous detection of cell exocytic activity and ionizing radiation
The investigation of secondary effects induced by ionizing radiation represents a new and ever-growing research field in radiobiology. This new paradigm cannot be investigated only using standard instrumentation and methodologies, but rather requires novel technologies to achieve significant progress. In this framework, we developed diamond-based sensors that allow simultaneous real-time measurements with a high spatial resolution of the secretory activity of a network of cells cultured on the device, as well as of the dose at which they are exposed during irradiation experiments. The devices were functionally characterized by testing both the above-mentioned detection schemes, namely: amperometric measurements of neurotransmitter release from excitable cells (such as dopamine or adrenaline) and dosimetric evaluation using different ionizing particles (alpha particle and X-ray photons). Finally, the sensors were employed to investigate the effects induced by X-rays on the exocytotic activity of PC12 neuroendocrine cells by monitoring the modulation of the dopamine release in real-time