Research Symposium

BIO

Hello, my name is Kayla and I am from Boca Raton, FL. I am interested in chemistry and hope to eventually go into industry after completing graduate school. Currently I work in the Lazenby Lab fabricating platinum microelectrodes to be used for single-cell sensing. Aside from chemistry, I also love baking, reading and playing games on my switch.

Electrochemical Probe Fabrication and Characterization for Single-Cell Sensing & Detection

Abstract

This study focuses on the preparation and characterization of electrochemical probes on the
micro and nano size scale for intracellular analysis. At the microscale, Pt microelectrodes are being fabricated for application in electrochemical aptamer-based sensors. These microelectrodes are made using heat-sealed platinum wire inside borosilicate capillary tubes. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) is then performed in a solution containing potassium ferricyanide to characterize the electrode quality and ensure proper connection. The ratio of the insulating radius to the conductive wire radius (RG value) is found using optical microscopy, with an optimal RG value range of 5-10 that allows for probe positioning in
close proximity to the membrane of single cells. At the nanoscale, carbon-deposited nanopipettes are being fabricated for intracellular sensing applications. Here, nanopipettes are made using pulled quartz glass capillaries which utilize a pyrolysis process to fill the probes with carbon to serve as an electrode material. CV is then employed to analyze the probe performance and reproducibility. These two probes are essential in advancing microscale and nanoscale electrochemical sensing, and will provide improved tools for single-cell analysis and sensor-based detection in biological systems.

Keywords: Electrochemical Probes, Electrochemistry, Single-Cell Sensing