SFC's Carbon nanopipette consists of a pulled glass capillary tube with an exposed carbon tip having a diameter ranging from tens to hundreds of nanometers.
CNPs offer significant advantages over traditional glass micropipettes such as smaller size (allowing for minimal damage to cells and enabling the probing of organelles when used for cellular injection), higher durability (the carbon tip bends whereas glass micropipettes break), better mechanical properties, and have a unique ability to dispense fluid and simultaneously detect electrical signals. This multifunctional capability makes CNPs particularly well-suited for automated cell injection.
Uses:
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| Features | CNP | Glass Capillary Pipette |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical properties | Flexible, less likely to break than glass | Fragile |
| Clogging | Clog-resistant | Frequent replacement needed (~ 4 cell penetration) |
| Sharpness | Maintains sharp tip | Tip dulls and loses its shape as it is stored |
| Cellular membrane damage | Less damage due to small tip size and sharpness | Salt diffuses from probe to the cell interior, air bubbles can be a problem |
| Multi-functionality | Concurrent injection AND electrical measurement | Injection OR electrical measurement |
| Ease of control | Good visual contrast improves imaging and control while inserting the pipette into the cell | Poor visual contrast |
| Automation Ability | Electrical sensing of cell penetration permits high degree of automation | No ability for automation |
| Scalability | Nanopipette arrays are feasible | Minimal |
| Sensitivity | Detect extremely low currents (below 50pA) | Extra equipment required |
| Cell physiology/microinjection equipment | Compatible | Compatible |