Combining a sensor and a pH-gated nanopore based on an avidin-biotin system

Area of Science:

• Nanotechnology
• Materials Science
• Biophysics

Background:

• Nanopores offer precise control over molecular transport.
• Tailoring nanopore surface chemistry is crucial for advanced applications.
• Existing methods for nanopore functionalization have limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel approach for tailoring nanopore properties.
• To combine pH gating and sensing functionalities within a single nanopore system.
• To investigate the role of specific surface modifications in nanopore behavior.

Main Methods:

• Utilized atomic layer deposition (ALD) to fabricate precisely defined nanopores.
• Employed polyethylene glycol (PEG)-like avidin grafting for surface functionalization.
• Investigated nanopore behavior across a range of pH conditions.

Main Results:

• Successfully engineered nanopores with combined pH gating and sensing capabilities.
• Demonstrated that PEG-like avidin grafting imparts pH-dependent blocking properties.
• Confirmed that PEG chains are the primary factor responsible for the observed pH-gating effect.

Conclusions:

• The proposed strategy offers a new method for creating functional nanopores.
• PEG-like avidin grafting provides a robust mechanism for pH-controlled nanopore operation.
• This approach has potential applications in sensing and molecular separation.