System and method for increasing polymer/nanopore interactions

US8283157B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• ELECTRONIC BIOSCIENCES, INC. · US

Inventors

• Andrew D. Hibbs · Village of La Jolla, US
• Geoffrey Barrall · San Diego, US
• Eric N. Ervin · Holladay, US
• Daniel K Lathrop · San Diego, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 18, 2009
• Grant date: Oct 9, 2012
• Expiry date: Jun 18, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N33/48721
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An electrolytic system includes an analyte chamber having an access port for introducing a sample containing a molecules of interest, such as DNA. Electrodes create an electric field along a length of the analyte chamber to drive molecules toward an interaction region containing a nanopore, thereby increasing the arrival rate of molecules at the nanopore. Additional electrodes may be utilized to create an electric field through the nanopore to drive a molecule into the nanopore. A current sensor may be utilized to count, discriminate or characterize the molecules as they interact with the nanopore. Advantageously, system can be utilized for unamplified DNA sequencing.