Translocation and nucleotide reading mechanisms for sequencing nanodevices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9234882-B2
Application number	US-201414576148-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 18, 2014
Priority date	Sep 19, 2011
Publication date	Jan 12, 2016
Grant date	Jan 12, 2016

Abstract

By driving molecules electrophoretically through a nanopore, single molecule detection can be achieved. To enhance translocational control, functionalized and non-functionalized electrodes are strategically placed around or above a nanopore. Changes in transmission spectra and input voltage detected by electrodes allow accurate identification of single molecules as they pass through a nanopore.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device to translocate molecules, comprising:
a first molecule channel along which translocation of the molecules is adapted to occur along a first direction; and
a first set of teeth jointly moveable back and forth in a same teeth direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, wherein joint movement back and forth of the first set of teeth in the same teeth direction causes the translocation of the molecules in the first molecule channel along the first direction.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the teeth of the first set of teeth are located sideways of the first molecule channel.

3. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a first conductive material located above the first molecule channel and the first set of teeth along an extension of the first molecule channel.

4. The device of claim 1 , the device being made of silicon or other silicon-based non-conducting material.

5. The device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second molecule channel along which translocation of the molecules is adapted to occur along a second direction opposite the first direction; and
a second set of teeth moveable back and forth in the teeth direction together with the first set of teeth, wherein movement back and forth of the first set of teeth and the second set of teeth causes translocation of the molecules in the second molecule channel along the second direction.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first molecular channel has a pore size and the pore size remains substantially unchanged during joint movement back and forth of the first set of teeth.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein an ionic current is present in the first direction.

8. The device of claim 2 , wherein the teeth of the first set of teeth located on a first side of the first molecule channel have a triangular shape.

9. The device of claim 2 , wherein the teeth of the first set of teeth located on a first side of the first molecule channel are asymmetric with the teeth on a second side of the first molecule channel opposite the first side.

10. A device to translocate molecules, comprising:
a first molecule channel along which translocation of the molecules is adapted to occur along a first direction;
a first set of teeth moveable back and forth in a teeth direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, wherein movement back and forth of the first set of teeth in the teeth direction causes the translocation of the molecules in the first molecule channel along the first direction; and
a first conductive material located above the first molecule channel and the first set of teeth along an extension of the first molecule channel.

11. A device to translocate molecules, comprising:
a first molecule channel along which translocation of the molecules is adapted to occur along a first direction;
a first set of teeth moveable back and forth in a teeth direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, wherein movement back and forth of the first set of teeth in the teeth direction causes the translocation of the molecules in the first molecule channel along the first direction;
a second molecule channel along which translocation of the molecules is adapted to occur along a second direction opposite the first direction; and
a second set of teeth moveable back and forth in the teeth direction together with the first set of teeth, wherein movement back and forth of the first set of teeth and the second set of teeth causes translocation of the molecules in the second molecule channel along the second direction.

Assignees

• California Inst Of Techn

Inventors

• Jaramillo-Botero Andres
• Goddard Iii William A

Classifications

• H01L51/055

  Electricity · mapped topic

• G01N33/48721 Primary

  Investigating individual macromolecules, e.g. by translocation through nanopores (Coulter counters in general G01N15/12; fabrication methods for nanoscale apertures B81B1/00; sequencing of nucleic acids C12Q1/68) · CPC title

• B82Y15/00

  Nanotechnology for interacting, sensing or actuating, e.g. quantum dots as markers in protein assays or molecular motors · CPC title

• G01N33/18

  Water · CPC title

• H01L51/0558

  Electricity · mapped topic