Nanofluidic channels with integrated charge sensors and methods based thereon
First Claim
1. An electrical detector for detecting a single charged molecule or particle of interest or a plurality of charged molecules or particles of interest comprising:
- a nanofluidic channel or plurality of nanofluidic channels, wherein the channel depth of each nanofluidic channel is smaller than, on the order of, or 2-10 times the Debye screening length;
a source and drain electrode pair or a plurality of source and drain electrode pairs,a charge sensor or a plurality of charge sensors associated with each nanofluidic channel, wherein;
the charge sensor or each charge sensor in the plurality of charge sensors is one continuous individually addressable nanowire or one continuous individually addressable nanotube,the charge sensor or each charge sensor in the plurality of charge sensors is electrically connected by electrical contacts to, and is addressable by, a single source and drain electrode pair; and
at least one portion of the charge sensor or of each charge sensor in the plurality of charge sensors is in the interior of the nanofluidic channel, whereby the charge sensor or each charge sensor in the plurality of charge sensors is contacted by fluid in the nanofluidic channel.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical detector is provided that comprises a nanofluidic channel with an integrated nanoscale charge sensor. The charge sensor can be an unfunctionalized nanowire, nanotube, transistor or capacitor and can be of carbon, silicon, carbon/silicon or other semiconducting material. The nanofluidic channel depth is on the order of the Debye screening length. Methods are also provided for detecting charged molecules or biological or chemical species with the electrical detector. Charged molecules or species in solution are driven through the nanofluidic channel of the electrical detector and contact the charge sensor, thereby producing a detectable signal. Methods are also provided for detecting a local solution potential of interest. A solution flowing through the nanofluidic channel of the electrical detector contacts the charge sensor, thereby producing a detectable local solution potential signal.
41 Citations
15 Claims
-
1. An electrical detector for detecting a single charged molecule or particle of interest or a plurality of charged molecules or particles of interest comprising:
-
a nanofluidic channel or plurality of nanofluidic channels, wherein the channel depth of each nanofluidic channel is smaller than, on the order of, or 2-10 times the Debye screening length; a source and drain electrode pair or a plurality of source and drain electrode pairs, a charge sensor or a plurality of charge sensors associated with each nanofluidic channel, wherein; the charge sensor or each charge sensor in the plurality of charge sensors is one continuous individually addressable nanowire or one continuous individually addressable nanotube, the charge sensor or each charge sensor in the plurality of charge sensors is electrically connected by electrical contacts to, and is addressable by, a single source and drain electrode pair; and at least one portion of the charge sensor or of each charge sensor in the plurality of charge sensors is in the interior of the nanofluidic channel, whereby the charge sensor or each charge sensor in the plurality of charge sensors is contacted by fluid in the nanofluidic channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
Specification