Study on microelectrode array biochip and carbon nanotube based electrochemical sensors and electronic devices

Abstract

Micro- and nano-electrodes have been the focus of many researchers in developing electrochemical sensor/biosensors and electronic devices due to their unique size and special electrochemical properties. In this study, Au microelectrode array biochips were designed, fabricated and characterized. Rapid, simple, high-throughput, sensitive, and highly-reproducible detection techniques were developed for study drug effect on dopamine release from dopaminergic cells. L-dopa, reserpine, and nomifensine were used as example drugs. These techniques could be used in drug screening for dopamine related psychiatric disorders. Furthermore, this study intended to use carbon nanotubes as a general platform for functional modifications towards the development of electrochemical sensor/biosensors and electronic devices. A bilayer-lipid-membrane, a RuO2-coating, Pt-nanoparticles, and PtPb-nanoparticles have been successfully constructed on the surface of multi-walled carbon nanotubes, and the constructions were characterized towards the development of photo-switched devices, supercapacitors, oxygen-sensors, and glucose-sensors, respectively. Excellent properties were found for these constructions in their respective applications.