Kinetics and mechanism of plasmid DNA penetration through nanopores

Microscopic Kinetics of DNA Translocation through synthetic nanopores.

We have previously demonstrated that a nanometer-diameter pore in a nanometer-thick metal-oxide-semiconductor-compatible membrane can be used as a molecular sensor for detecting DNA. The prospects for using this type of device for sequencing DNA are avidly being pursued. The key attribute of the sensor is the electric field-induced (voltage-driven) translocation of the DNA molecule in an electr...

Kinetics and mechanism of proton transport across membrane nanopores.

We use computer simulations to study the kinetics and mechanism of proton passage through a narrow-pore carbon-nanotube membrane separating reservoirs of liquid water. Free energy and rate constant calculations show that protons move across the membrane diffusively along single-file chains of hydrogen-bonded water molecules. Proton passage through the membrane is opposed by a high barrier in th...

DNA translocation through graphene nanopores.

We report on DNA translocations through nanopores created in graphene membranes. Devices consist of 1-5 nm thick graphene membranes with electron-beam sculpted nanopores from 5 to 10 nm in diameter. Due to the thin nature of the graphene membranes, we observe larger blocked currents than for traditional solid-state nanopores. However, ionic current noise levels are several orders of magnitude l...

DNA translocation through graphene nanopores.

Nanopores--nanosized holes that can transport ions and molecules--are very promising devices for genomic screening, in particular DNA sequencing. Solid-state nanopores currently suffer from the drawback, however, that the channel constituting the pore is long, approximately 100 times the distance between two bases in a DNA molecule (0.5 nm for single-stranded DNA). This paper provides proof of ...

Simulations of DNA translocation through nanopores