Nanopores: Portals to the Molecular World

Cherry Auditorium Kirk Hall

Nanopores are molecular-sized holes in an insulating membrane. Incorporated in a detector, they deliver single molecule sensing capability with simple electronic readout and control. Self-assembling, naturally occurring nanopores have been the historical choice for developing molecular sensing methods and they are ideally suited to DNA sensing applications. I will present results using -hemolysin pores for DNA genotyping in which a new method, nanopore force spectroscopy, is developed. For point-of-use applications, however, robust silicon nitride nanopores are preferable to their -hemolysin brethren. I will discuss the challenges and opportunities of developing force spectroscopy in a silicon nitride pore, and present the insights generated by our successful exploration of receptor-ligand interactions in the avidin-biotin system.