305Vertically Aligned Carbon Nanofibers for Biointerfacing
Gene delivery via this impalement process has been demonstrated with both physi-
sorbed and covalently linked DNA immobilization strategies. For the former, DNA is
suspended in water or stabilizing buffer solutions at very low concentration, and dis-
pensed and dried onto small “chips” of VACNF arrays, typically at coverages of between
1 and 20 ng/μm
2
. Choice of solvent is important, as conventional DNA stabilizing solu-
tions such as 1× tris-edta (TE) will produce solid crystals during the drying process, the
presence of which diminishes the ability of the deployed chip to effectively interact with
individual cells and to achieve nanober intracellular residence. DNA modied chips
are ...