SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING TEMPERATURE OF SMALL VOLUMES
First Claim
1. A system for measuring temperature at a nanopore, the system comprising:
- a substrate defining a surface and at least one nanopore;
a plasmonic structure disposed proximate the nanopore;
an ionic conducting solution which bathes the nanopore and the plasmonic structure;
a light source capable of emitting light of sufficient intensity and wavelength to excite the plasmonic structure;
an ionic current measuring assembly configured to measure changes in ionic conductance proximate to the nanopore;
whereby upon excitation of the plasmonic structure resulting from emission of light from the light source, changes in ionic conductance measured by the ionic current measuring assembly are used to determine temperature or temperature changes at the nanopore.
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Abstract
Systems and methods for controlling the temperature of small volumes such as yoctoliter volumes, are described. The systems include one or more plasmonic nanostructures attached at or near a nanopore. Upon excitation of the plasmonic nanostructures, such as for example by exposure to laser light, the nanoparticles are rapidly heated thereby causing a change in the ionic conductance along the nanopore. The temperature change is determined from the ionic conductance. These temperature changes can be used to control rapid thermodynamic changes in molecular analytes as they interact with the nanopore.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A system for measuring temperature at a nanopore, the system comprising:
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a substrate defining a surface and at least one nanopore; a plasmonic structure disposed proximate the nanopore; an ionic conducting solution which bathes the nanopore and the plasmonic structure; a light source capable of emitting light of sufficient intensity and wavelength to excite the plasmonic structure; an ionic current measuring assembly configured to measure changes in ionic conductance proximate to the nanopore; whereby upon excitation of the plasmonic structure resulting from emission of light from the light source, changes in ionic conductance measured by the ionic current measuring assembly are used to determine temperature or temperature changes at the nanopore. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for measuring temperature at a nanopore, the method comprising:
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providing a plasmonic structure; affixing the plasmonic structure proximate the nanopore; emitting light of sufficient intensity and wavelength to excite the plasmonic structure and induce a change in temperature; measuring changes in ionic conductance proximate the nanopore; whereby the changes in ionic conductance are used to determine temperature or temperature changes at the nanopore. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for analyzing polymers comprising:
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providing plasmonic nanostructures; providing a surface containing a nanopore; affixing the plasmonic nanostructures proximate the nanopore; disposing a polymer to be analyzed in the nanopore; emitting light of sufficient intensity and wavelength to excite the plasmonic nanostructures and induce a change in temperature within the nanopore; analyzing the polymer disposed in the nanopore by use of the change in temperature within the nanopore. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification