Harvard College

Derek Stein

Jene A Golovchenko

Jiali Li

Marc H Gershow

The invention features methods for evaluating the conformation of a polymer, for example, for determining the conformational distribution of a plurality of polymers and to detect binding or denaturation events. The methods employ a nanopore which the polymer, e.g., a nucleic acid, traverses. As the polymer traverses the nanopore, measurements of transport properties of the nanopore yield data on the conformation of the polymer.

Study of polymer molecules and conformations with a nanopore

For controlling a physical dimension of a solid state structural feature, a solid state structure is provided, having a surface and having a structural feature. The structure is exposed to a first periodic flux of ions having a first exposure duty cycle characterized by a first ion exposure duration and a first nonexposure duration for the first duty cycle, and then at a second periodic flux of ions having a second exposure duty cycle characterized by a second ion exposure duration and a second nonexposure duration that is greater than the first nonexposure duration, for the second duty cycle, to cause transport, within the structure including the structure surface, of material of the structure to the structural feature in response to the ion flux exposure to change at least one physical dimension of the feature substantially by locally adding material of the structure to the feature.

Growing community of inventors

Delft, Netherlands

Derek Stein