A nanoscale probe includes a substrate and a pair of nanoscale wires each having a first end disposed on the substrate and a second end. The second ends of each nanoscale wire are in contact with one another such that the pair of nanoscale wires forms a bridge extending over the substrate. The nanoscale wires may be electrically connected to electrodes residing on the substrate. The electrodes, in turn, are connected to an active electronic device such as a readout device or microprocessor formed in the substrate on which the probe is located. In this way a property of the nanoscale wires, and thus of the cell, may be determined.
