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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 11, 2025

Fine-tuning the Size and Minimizing the Noise of Solid-state Nanopores

Fine-tuning the Size and Minimizing the Noise of Solid-state Nanopores

Published on: October 31, 2013

Salt Gradient Control of Translocation Dynamics in a Solid-State Nanopore.

Iat Wai Leong¹, Makusu Tsutsui¹, Kazumichi Yokota²

¹The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research, Osaka University, Ibaraki, Osaka 567-0047, Japan.

Analytical Chemistry

|December 3, 2021

Summary

Utilizing a salt gradient in silicon nitride nanopores fine-tunes analyte capture and translocation. This method enhances nanoparticle detection efficiency and controls speed, improving nanopore sensing for biomolecules.

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Area of Science:

Nanotechnology
Analytical Chemistry
Biophysics

Background:

Solid-state nanopores offer potential for nanoscale object analysis via ionic current.
Controlling analyte capture rates and translocation time is crucial for nanopore sensing accuracy.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the use of salt gradients for fine-tuning capture-to-translocation dynamics in silicon nitride nanopores.
To enhance the detection and analysis of individual nanoscale objects.

Main Methods:

Employing 300 nm sized silicon nitride (SiN) nanopores.
Applying a 5-fold ion concentration difference (salt gradient) across the dielectric membrane.
Measuring ionic current changes for nanoparticle translocation events.

Main Results:

Demonstrated a decrease up to a factor of 3 in electrophoretic speed of nanoparticles at the pore exit.
Achieved over a 3-fold increase in particle detection efficiency using the salt gradient.
Elucidated the role of salt-gradient-mediated electric field and electroosmotic flow asymmetry.

Conclusions:

Salt gradients provide effective control over nanopore sensing dynamics.
This technique significantly enhances sensor performance for nanoparticle detection.
Findings can advance nanopore sensing for biomolecules like amyloids and proteins.