Functionalized zinc oxide nanorod with ionophore-membrane coating as an intracellular Ca2+ selective sensor

The tip of a borosilicate glass capillary with functionalized hexagonal ZnO nanorods was used to make a sensitive electrochemical intracellular Ca2+ sensor. To adjust the sensor for Ca2+ measurements with sufficient selectivity and stability, polyvinylchloride membrane containing Ca2+ ionophores were coated on the surface. The membrane covered ZnO nanorods exhibited a Ca2+-dependent electrochemical potential difference versus an Ag/AgCl reference electrode. The potential difference was linear over a large concentration range (100 nM–10 mM). The measurements of Ca2+ concentrations using our ZnO nanorods sensor in human fat cells or in frog egg cells were consistent with values of Ca2+ concentrations reported in the literature. This nanoelectrode device paves the way to measurements of intracellular biochemical species in specific locations within single living cells.