nanoCuvette consists of an upper compartment, a nanoengineered microchannel, and a flow outlet. Sample is loaded into the upper compartment. By gravity, the sample flows through the microchannel and out from the outlet. Since the microchannel surface is nanoengineered with functionalized carbon nanotubes, targeting molecules can be covalently immobilized on the nanotube surface. Thereby, the targets (ions or molecules can be captured selectively, and then detected by a spectrophotometer.

Main advantages

1.      Small amount and flexible amount of sample needed. The sample is added in the upper compartment of the nanoCuvette, which can be about nanoliters to milliliters in volume. 

2.      Easy and simple handling. The enzyme or molecules can be attached to the nanoengineered surface in the microchannel in advance or by manufacturing. The measurement is just one step, adding the sample solution into the upper compartment of the nanoCuvette.

3.      High sensitivity. Highly dense binding surface for targeted molecules on the functional nanotubes and flow-through sample solution significantly increase the detection sensitivity.

4.      High speed. The molecular binding reaction is very fast between the sensing molecules on the nanotubes and the targeted molecules in the sample. Due to nanotubes and the functional groups on their surfaces increase the sensing area and the density of the sensing molecules, the time for target measurement can be less than 1 minute.