Northeastern University

Mohammadamin Alibakhshi

Meni Wanunu

Zhuoyu Zhang

Xinqi Kang

An apparatus is provided for sensing a molecule in a sample. The apparatus utilizes an electric field to draw molecules from a first chamber through an aperture, defined by a chemical layer, into a second chamber. The apparatus can detect a DNA molecule with, for example, 4, 5, or 6 unique base pairs. As molecules pass through the aperture, a sensor detects or measures a change in an electric parameter used to generate the electric field, thereafter translating the change in the electric parameter into information about the molecule. A divider element separates the first and second chambers and supports a chemical layer defining the aperture. The apparatus enables detection or measurement of molecules over prolonged time at a higher electric field strength than other nanopores, due to a combination of the shape of the divider, structural elements thereon, and thickness of the chemical layer at the aperture.

Method and apparatus for sensing a molecule

A multiplexed digital detection platform embodiment for molecular species in solution is based on a single-molecule immunochemistry, and/or aptamer chemistry, on color-barcoded beads. Beads that capture molecular species from a complex sample using selective binders are exposed to a test sample, and the captured molecular species is tagged using second affinity probes that are linked to photocleavable nucleic acid particles. In the embodiment, the beads are then introduced to a counter system that comprises a microcavity/nanopore device. Once a bead is captured by the micropore, nucleic acid particles, e.g., reporter nucleic acid nanoparticles (rNANPs), are released using photocleavage, and are detected by the nanopore. Each electrical spike that is uniquely produced by the nucleic acid nanoparticle is counted as a single molecular species, and the total count represents the overall number of molecular species in the sample. Various molecular species can be detected at the same time.

Growing community of inventors

Boston, MA, United States of America

Mohammadamin Alibakhshi