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Updated: Aug 6, 2026
Covalent Attachment of Single Molecules for AFM-based Force Spectroscopy
Published on: March 16, 2020
Supramolecular strategy for probing conducting polymers at single molecule level
Alina Asandei1, Corneliu Cojocaru2, Manuela Pastoriza-Gallego3
1Université Paris-Saclay, Université Evry, CY Cergy Paris Université, CNRS, LAMBE, Evry- Courcouronnes, 91025, France; The Institute of Interdisciplinary Research, Department of Exact Sciences and Natural Sciences, "Alexandru Ioan Cuza", University of Iasi, Iasi, 700506, Romania.
We explored single conducting polymer molecules (PEDOT) using biological nanopores. PEDOT complexed with cyclodextrins showed strong interactions, enabling single-molecule analysis and new biosensing platforms.
Area of Science:
- Organic electronics
- Nanopore sensing
- Supramolecular chemistry
Background:
- Conducting polymers like poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) are key in organic electronics.
- Investigating PEDOT at the single-molecule level in nanopores is challenging due to poor aqueous solubility.
- Integrating conducting polymers with biological interfaces requires overcoming solubility limitations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the single-molecule interactions of conducting polymers with biological nanopores.
- To overcome the poor aqueous solubility of PEDOT for nanopore analysis.
- To explore the potential of PEDOT-cyclodextrin complexes in nanopore sensing.
Main Methods:
- Molecular docking simulations.
- Nanopore resistive pulse sensing (Np-RPS).
- Utilizing stable aqueous supramolecular dispersions of PEDOT complexed with cyclodextrins (PEDOT·CDs).
Main Results:
- Single PEDOT·CDs supramolecular assemblies showed strong, specific interactions with Aerolysin (Ael) and Alpha-hemolysin (α-HL) nanopores.
- This marks the first report of conducting polymers studied at the single-molecule level using biological nanopores.
- Normalized current blockages were similar for cyclodextrins alone and PEDOT·CDs, indicating PEDOT encapsulation within CDs without significantly altering ion transport.
Conclusions:
- PEDOT·CDs complexes can be effectively probed at the single-molecule level using biological nanopores.
- Encapsulated PEDOT within CDs does not significantly contribute to ionic current modulation in nanopores.
- This decoupling of molecular occupancy and ionic transport opens new avenues for hybrid ionic-electronic nanopore biosensing platforms.
