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DNA Capture by Nanopore Sensors under Flow
Analytical Chemistry
|May 16, 2020
Summary
Cross-flow in microfluidic channels enhances DNA capture by nanopore sensors, but excessive flow reduces it. This flow can also be used to control DNA translocation speed.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Nanotechnology
- Microfluidics
Background:
- Integrating nanopore sensors with microfluidics enhances sample processing.
- Nanopore sensor performance is affected by fluid flow within microchannels.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how tangential fluid flow impacts DNA capture and translocation through solid-state nanopores.
- To understand the mechanisms governing these flow-dependent alterations.
Main Methods:
- Experiments using 1-5 kbp double-stranded DNA molecules in solid-state nanopores.
- Application of tangential fluid flow across the nanopore aperture.
- Modeling DNA dynamics considering laminar flow, Brownian motion, and electrophoretic drift.
Main Results:
- Capture rate increased up to 5-fold with moderate cross-flow, depending on DNA length.
- Higher flow rates led to a decrease in capture rate.
- Flow-induced viscous drag can be used to tune DNA translocation kinetics.
Conclusions:
- Observed trends result from competing mechanisms: convective transport enhancement and reduced capture volume.
- Fluid flow offers a method to modulate DNA translocation dynamics in nanopore sensing.
