Prospects for single-molecule electrostatic detection in molecular motor gliding motility assays

Molecular motor gliding motility assays based on myosin/actin or kinesin/microtubules are of interest for nanotechnology applications ranging from cargo-trafficking in lab-on-a-chip devices to novel biocomputation strategies. Prototype systems typically monitored by expensive and bulky fluorescence microscopy the development integrated, direct electric detection single filaments would strongly benefit scale-up. We present estimates viability such a detector calculating electrostatic potential change generated at carbon nanotube transistor motile actin filament microtubule under realistic assay conditions. combine this with limits previous state-of-the-art experiments using transistors detect catalysis bound lysozyme molecule melting short-strand DNA molecule. Our results show that should be possible both microtubules existing low ionic strength buffers given good device design, e.g., raising slightly above guiding channel floor. perform studies as function buffer strength, height floor, presence/absence casein surface passivation layer linear charge density filaments/microtubules. is more likely prospect their smaller travel surface, higher negative passivation, may possibly achieved nanoscale sitting directly