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Microtubules

Microtubules

There are three types of cytoskeletal structures in eukaryotic cells—microfilaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules. With a diameter of about 25 nm, microtubules are the thickest of these fibers. Microtubules carry out a variety of functions that include cell structure and support, transport of organelles, cell motility (movement), and the separation of chromosomes during cell division.Microtubules are hollow tubes whose walls are made up of globular tubulin proteins. Each tubulin...

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Monitoring Protein Adsorption with Solid-state Nanopores

Monitoring Protein Adsorption with Solid-state Nanopores

Published on: December 2, 2011

Hybrid Microtubule-Solid-State Nanopores for Single-Molecule Analysis.

Matthew O'Donohue¹, Chaoming Gu¹, Byungsoo Kim²

¹Department of Mechanical Engineering, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas, USA.

Electrophoresis

|March 30, 2026

Summary

This study introduces a novel microtubule-solid-state nanopore (MT-SSN) platform for label-free single-molecule analysis. The hybrid device exhibits current rectification and improves DNA translocation analysis by slowing molecule movement and enhancing signal contrast.

Keywords:

bioelectronic nanodevice ion transport microtubule microtubule–solid‐state nanopore single‐molecule analysis

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Area of Science:

Bioelectronics
Nanotechnology
Biophysics

Background:

Solid-state nanopores (SSNs) are used for single-molecule analysis.
Microtubules (MTs) are cytoskeletal proteins with potential applications in bioelectronics.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop and characterize a hybrid microtubule-solid-state nanopore (MT-SSN) platform.
To investigate the use of MTs as a component in nanopore sensing.
To enable label-free single-molecule analysis using a biohybrid system.

Main Methods:

Fabrication of a hybrid MT-SSN platform by electrostatically anchoring taxol-stabilized MTs into SSNs.
Measurement of ionic current through MT-SSNs under varying configurations and voltage biases.
Analysis of double-stranded DNA translocation dynamics through bare SSNs and MT-SSNs.

Main Results:

The hybrid MT-SSN platform exhibits significant current-voltage asymmetry (rectification) due to geometrical asymmetry.
MT-SSNs reduce the translocation speed of double-stranded DNA by up to ~3.5x compared to bare SSNs.
The hybrid platform enhances event-level signal contrast by increasing relative current blockade, despite increased low-frequency noise.

Conclusions:

Repurposing the hollow, charged nanotubule of MTs provides a novel framework for nanoscale ionic transport probing.
The MT-SSN platform demonstrates potential for label-free single-molecule analysis.
This study highlights the broader utility of cytoskeletal proteins in bioelectronic sensing applications.