We demonstrate the feasibility of a nanopore based single-molecule DNA sequencing method, which employs multicolor readout. Target DNA is converted according to a binary code, which is recognized by molecular beacons with two types of fluorophores. Solid-state nanopores are then used to sequentially strip off the beacons, leading to a series of detectable photon bursts, at high speed. We show t...

SP1 protein as a new type of biological nanopore is described and is utilized to distinguish single-stranded DNA at the single-molecule level. Using the SP1 nanopore to investigate single molecule detection broadens the existing research areas of pore-forming biomaterials from unsymmetrical biological nanopores to symmetrical biological nanopores. This novel nanopore could provide a good candid...

We study the impact of induced pressure fields on water flow and salt rejection in nanopores produced MoS2 membranes. observe that permeability are not impacted by distance between pores. This result contradicts continuous fluid mechanics calculations microfilters, which indicates existence hydrodynamic interactions adjacent pores increase mobility. Our results suggest at this nanoscale, do aff...

Gating in channels and nanopores plays a key role in regulating flow of ions across membranes. Molecular simulations provide a 'computational microscope' which enables us to examine the physical nature of gating mechanisms at the level of the single channel molecule. Water enclosed within the confines of a nanoscale pore may exhibit unexpected behaviour. In particular, if the molecular surfaces...

We present a theoretical study of nanorod translocation events through solid-state nanopores of different sizes which result in positive or negative ion conductance changes. Using theoretical models, we show that positive conductance changes or up events happen for nanopore diameters smaller than a transition diameter dt, and negative conductance changes or down events occur for nanopore diamet...

Focused ion beam (FIB) technology is widely used to fabricate nanopores in solid-state membranes. These nanopores have desirable thermomechanical properties for applications such as high-throughput DNA sequencing. Using large scale molecular dynamics simulations of the FIB nanopore formation process, we show that there is a threshold ion delivery rate above which the mechanism underlying nanopo...

Solid-state nanopores are sensors capable of analysing individual unlabelled DNA molecules in solution. Although the critical information obtained from nanopores (for example, DNA sequence) comes from the signal collected during DNA translocation, the throughput of the method is determined by the rate at which molecules arrive and thread into the pores. Here, we study the process of DNA capture...

Solid-state nanopores fabricated by a high-intensity electron beam in ceramic membranes can be fine-tuned on three-dimensional geometry and composition by choice of materials and beam sculpting conditions. For similar beam conditions, 8 nm diameter nanopores fabricated in membranes containing SiO(2) show large depletion areas (70 nm in radius) with small sidewall angles (55 degrees ), whereas t...

Solid-state nanopores have emerged as useful single-molecule sensors for DNA and proteins. A novel and simple technique for solid-state nanopore fabrication is reported here. The process involves direct thermal heating of 100 to 300 nm nanopores, made by focused ion beam (FIB) milling in free-standing membranes. Direct heating results in shrinking of the silicon dioxide nanopores. The free-stan...

With strides in stem cell biology, cell engineering and molecular therapy, the transplantation of cells to produce therapeutic molecules endogenously is an attractive and achievable alternative to the use of exogenous drugs. The encapsulation of such cell transplants in semi-permeable, nanoporous constructs is often required to protect them from immune attack and to prevent their proliferation ...