The nanopore connection to cell membrane unitary permeability

Artificial nanopores have recently emerged as versatile tools for analyzing and sorting single molecules at high speed. However, the biological cell has already developed a large set of sophisticated protein nanopores that are able to selectively translocate all types of molecules through membranes. Therefore, hybrid devices combining artifical solid-state with biomimetic protein nanopores appear to us as a particularly promising approach to the creation of powerful diagnostic, preparative and therapeutic devices. Here, we discuss a technique, optical single-transporter recording (OSTR), in which arrays of artificial micropores and nanopores are employed to analyze protein nanopores of cellular membranes. After briefly summarizing some salient features of OSTR, the technique is compared with the electrical patch clamp method and the first results of our efforts to amalgamate optical and electrical recording are described. Finally, prospects for combining OSTR with 4Pi microscopy, single-molecule fluorescence spectroscopy and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy are discussed.