Development of single-molecule sensors with electrophoresis control capability

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24681032
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (A)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Microdevices/Nanodevices
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: TSUTSUI Makusu 大阪大学, 産業科学研究所, 准教授 (50546596)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: ナノポア / 単分子 / ＤＮＡ / シークエンシング / トンネル電流 / ナノ電極 / ＭＥＭＳ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This research project aims to develop an in-plane nanopore device for single-molecule DNA sequencing that incorporates electrophoresis control of DNA motions through the pore. For this purpose, a new method was developed for evaluating single-molecule dynamics in a nanochannel that is based on simultaneous measurements of the cross-channel ionic current and fluorescence. Moreover, two nanoelectrodes were used to create an electric field inside a fluidic channel. It was demonstrated that this transverse electric field could slow-down the DNA electrophoretic speed by up to 1/500. On the other hand, it was found that the trapping field interferes with the electric field used for the tunneling current measurements. In order to suppress the interference effects, insulator-protected nanoelectrode systems were developed, which were proven to be useful in probing tunneling current with accuracy in a liquid environment.

Free Research Field

分子エレクトロニクス