Intracellular Silicon Chips in Living Cells

Abstract

Silicon-based chips offer high flexibility and versatility as they are based on semiconductor and MEMS technology. They can be top-down fabricated with well-controlled shape and size. Silicon microchips can be internalized into eukaryotic cells (see image) without interfering with cell viability. Engineered intracellular chips with different biomolecules attached to the surface can be used as intracellular sensors.