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Crowding Effects during DNA Translocation in Nanopipettes.
Rand A Al-Waqfi1,2, Cengiz J Khan1, Oliver J Irving1
1University of Birmingham, School of Chemistry, Edgbaston Campus, Birmingham B15 2TT, U.K.
ACS Nano
|April 23, 2025
Summary
Quartz nanopipettes enable advanced single-molecule sensing by exploiting DNA crowding effects. This allows for enhanced biophysical studies and integrated sample processing for biomolecular targets.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Nanotechnology
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Quartz nanopipettes are emerging electric single-molecule sensors for biomolecules.
- Their asymmetric environment causes direction-dependent ion and biopolymer transport.
- Nanoconfinement offers unique capabilities for biophysical and bioanalytical studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate DNA accumulation and crowding effects within quartz nanopipettes.
- To explore the exploitation of these effects for single-molecule sensing applications.
- To demonstrate an integrated sample processing and detection method using nanopipettes.
Main Methods:
- Experimental analysis of DNA transport and accumulation in quartz nanopipettes under various conditions.
- Utilizing biotin-functionalized DNA and streptavidin-modified gold nanoparticles as model targets.
- Employing reverse translocation for the analysis of formed complexes.
Main Results:
- Observed DNA accumulation within the nanopipette nanochannel, leading to crowding effects.
- Demonstrated reversible blocking of DNA entry due to nanoconfinement.
- Successfully utilized crowding and increased residence time for proof-of-concept detection of nanoparticle-DNA complexes.
Conclusions:
- DNA crowding in nanopipettes enhances single-molecule detection capabilities.
- Nanopipettes can integrate sample processing and detection for biomolecular analysis.
- This approach advances the applicability of nanopipettes for complex bioanalytical studies.
