Carbon Nano tube Sensors

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Technology Numerous entities including the medical community, law enforcement and national defense have long sought non-invasive ways to accurately detect, monitor and analyze the presence or absence of target molecules in an individual/patient. Carbon nanotubes have emerged as very sensitive field effect transistors to act as signal transducers, however current technology has not been able to capitalize on its properties as a biosensor due to challenges with engaging bioreceptors.  Georgetown University researchers have developed a way to functionalize bioreceptors on the surface of carbon nanotubes, which are otherwise inert to such functionalization. By decorating the surface of the carbon nanotubes with metallic nanoparticles, the bioreceptors can be anchored to the carbon nanotube. In this way the vast potential of carbon nanotubes as sensitive biosensors can be realized.