Electrochemical detection of single molecules using abiotic nanopores having electrically tunable dimensions
First Claim
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1. A barrier structure, the barrier structure comprising:
- a. a first chamber;
b. a second chamber;
c. a barrier separating the first chamber and the second chamber, wherein the barrier comprises at least one electroactive nanopore structure joining the first chamber and the second chamber, wherein the at least one electroactive nanopore structure comprises;
i. a wall defining a electroactive nanopore connecting the first chamber and the second chamber and having an electrically tunable diameter;
ii. a first electrode pair disposed in the wall, wherein electrodes of the first electrode pair are disposed at opposite ends of the electroactive nanopore, and wherein a first voltage across the first electrode pair attracts a plurality molecules to the electroactive nanopore and drives the plurality of molecules through the electroactive nanopore; and
iii. a second electrode pair disposed in the wall between the first electrode pair; and
iv. a conductive polymer disposed over an electrode of the second electrode pair, wherein the conductive polymer is responsive to a second voltage across the second electrode pair and is capable of expansion or contraction in response to the second voltage, and wherein the expansion decreases the electrically tunable diameter and the contraction increases the electrically tunable diameter; and
d. at least one power supply electrically coupled to the first electrode pair and the second electrode pair, wherein the at least one power supply provides the first voltage across the first electrode pair and the second voltage across the second electrode pair.
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Abstract
A barrier structure for use in an electrochemical stochastic membrane sensor for single molecule detection. The sensor is based upon inorganic nanopores having electrically tunable dimensions. The inorganic nanopores are formed from inorganic materials and an electrically conductive polymer. Methods of making the barrier structure and sensing single molecules using the barrier structure are also described.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A barrier structure, the barrier structure comprising:
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a. a first chamber; b. a second chamber; c. a barrier separating the first chamber and the second chamber, wherein the barrier comprises at least one electroactive nanopore structure joining the first chamber and the second chamber, wherein the at least one electroactive nanopore structure comprises; i. a wall defining a electroactive nanopore connecting the first chamber and the second chamber and having an electrically tunable diameter; ii. a first electrode pair disposed in the wall, wherein electrodes of the first electrode pair are disposed at opposite ends of the electroactive nanopore, and wherein a first voltage across the first electrode pair attracts a plurality molecules to the electroactive nanopore and drives the plurality of molecules through the electroactive nanopore; and iii. a second electrode pair disposed in the wall between the first electrode pair; and iv. a conductive polymer disposed over an electrode of the second electrode pair, wherein the conductive polymer is responsive to a second voltage across the second electrode pair and is capable of expansion or contraction in response to the second voltage, and wherein the expansion decreases the electrically tunable diameter and the contraction increases the electrically tunable diameter; and d. at least one power supply electrically coupled to the first electrode pair and the second electrode pair, wherein the at least one power supply provides the first voltage across the first electrode pair and the second voltage across the second electrode pair. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An electroactive nanopore structure, the electroactive nanopore structure comprising:
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a. a wall defining a electroactive nanopore having a first open end and a second open end and having a electrically tunable diameter; b. a first electrode pair disposed in the wall, wherein electrodes of the first electrode pair are disposed at opposite ends of the electroactive nanopore, and wherein a first voltage across the first electrode pair attracts a plurality molecules to the electroactive nanopore and drives the plurality of molecules through the electroactive nanopore; and c. a second electrode pair disposed in the wall between the first electrode pair; and d. a conductive polymer disposed over an electrode of the second electrode pair, wherein the conductive polymer is responsive to a second voltage across the second electrode pair and is capable of expansion or contraction in response to the second voltage, and wherein the expansion decreases the electrically tunable diameter and the contraction increases the electrically tunable diameter. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A stochastic sensor structure, the stochastic sensor structure comprising:
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a. a first chamber; b. a second chamber; c. a barrier separating the first chamber and the second chamber, wherein the barrier comprises at least one electroactive nanopore structure joining the first chamber and the second chamber, wherein the at least one electroactive nanopore structure comprises; i. a wall defining a electroactive nanopore connecting the first chamber and the second chamber and having a electrically tunable diameter; ii. a first electrode pair disposed in the wall, wherein electrodes of the first electrode pair are disposed at opposite ends of the electroactive nanopore, and wherein a first voltage across the first electrode pair attracts a plurality molecules to the electroactive nanopore and drives the plurality of molecules through the electroactive nanopore; and iii. a second electrode pair disposed in the wall between the first electrode pair; and iv. a conductive polymer disposed over an electrode of the second electrode pair, wherein the conductive polymer is responsive to a second voltage across the second electrode pair and is capable of expansion or contraction in response to the second voltage, and wherein the expansion decreases the electrically tunable diameter and the contraction increases the electrically tunable diameter; d. at least one power supply electrically coupled to the first electrode pair and the second electrode pair, wherein the at least one power supply provides the first voltage across the first electrode pair and the second voltage across the second electrode pair; and e. a current measuring device for measuring a current flowing between the first electrode pair, wherein the current corresponds to a predetermined molecular species.
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17. A method of making a electroactive nanopore structure, wherein the electroactive nanopore structure comprises:
- a wall defining a electroactive nanopore having a first open end and a second open end and having a electrically tunable diameter;
a first electrode pair having electrodes disposed at opposite ends of the electroactive nanopore;
a second electrode pair comprising a second anode and a second cathode disposed in the wall between the first electrode pair; and
a conductive polymer disposed over an electrode of the second electrode pair;
the method comprising the steps of;a. providing a template comprising a strip of photocurable polymer; b. depositing alternating layers of conductive material and insulating material over the template, wherein the alternating layers form the first electrode pair and the second electrode pair, and wherein electrodes of the first electrode pair and the second electrode pair are separated by at least one layer of insulating material; c. removing the template to form the electroactive nanopore; and d. depositing the conductive polymer on the electrode of the second electrode pair to form the electrically tunable diameter. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
- a wall defining a electroactive nanopore having a first open end and a second open end and having a electrically tunable diameter;
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23. A method of sensing the presence of an analyte molecule, the method comprising the steps of:
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a. providing a sensor structure, the sensor structure comprising a sampling chamber, a collection chamber, and a separation structure separating the sampling chamber and the collection chamber, wherein the separation structure includes a electroactive nanopore structure comprising;
a wall defining a electroactive nanopore connecting the sampling chamber and the collection chamber and having a electrically tunable diameter;
a first electrode pair having electrodes disposed at opposite ends of the electroactive nanopore;
a second electrode pair disposed in the wall between the first electrode pair; and
a conductive polymer disposed over an electrode of the second electrode pair;b. providing the analyte molecule to the sampling chamber; c. passing the analyte molecule from the sampling chamber into the electroactive nanopore; and d. measuring a current across the first electrode pair, wherein the current is indicative of the presence of the analyte molecule. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of controlling flow of a fluid between a first chamber and a second chamber, the method comprising:
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a. providing a barrier structure, wherein the barrier structure includes at least one electroactive nanopore structure, wherein the at least one electroactive nanopore structure comprises;
a wall defining a electroactive nanopore connecting the first chamber and the second chamber and having a electrically tunable diameter;
a first electrode pair disposed in the wall and having electrodes disposed at opposite ends of the electroactive nanopore;
a second electrode pair disposed in the wall between the first electrode pair; and
a conductive polymer disposed over an electrode of the second electrode pair;b. providing the fluid to the first chamber; c. passing the fluid from the first chamber into the electroactive nanopore; and d. increasing or decreasing the electrically tunable diameter of the electroactive nanopore to control the flow of the fluid through the electroactive nanopore to the second chamber. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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Specification