A platinum and gold compound is being used by researchers to discover more information about living cells.

Researchers from the Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre (IMEC) in Leuven, Belgium, have created platinum and gold mushroom-shaped pillars on the surface of a chip.

The aim is to establish an electrical interface directly onto the inside of a living cell and the platinum and gold pillars are connected to underlying circuitry to enable them to pass a current through the pillars.

Electronics Design, Strategy News reports that the pillars are coated with a peptide that stimulates endocytosis, meaning passing cells stop to absorb the pillars. Once this occurs, the cell becomes fixed on the chip and the electrodes reach inside the cell wall.

It is hoped this procedure will allow the scientists to monitor the gross electrical properties of the cell's cytoplasm, as well as create a more detailed map of the cell's contents.

Source:

IMEC research explores the chip/cell interface, 26/10/07
http://www.edn.com/index.asp?layout=article&articleid=CA6494779

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