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Solid-state nanopores

Nature Nanotechnology volume 2, pages 209–215 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

The passage of individual molecules through nanosized pores in membranes is central to many processes in biology. Previously, experiments have been restricted to naturally occurring nanopores, but advances in technology now allow artificial solid-state nanopores to be fabricated in insulating membranes. By monitoring ion currents and forces as molecules pass through a solid-state nanopore, it is possible to investigate a wide range of phenomena involving DNA, RNA and proteins. The solid-state nanopore proves to be a surprisingly versatile new single-molecule tool for biophysics and biotechnology.

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Figure 1: DNA translocation through a biological nanopore.
Figure 3: Translocation of dsDNA through a solid-state nanopore.
Figure 2: Fabrication of solid-state nanopores.
Figure 4: New developments.

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Acknowledgements

I have benefited from interactions with all the members from our Delft team in the past few years, Dennis M. van den Broek, Giorgia M. S. Dato, Nynke H. Dekker, Jelle van der Does, Stijn Dorp, Hendrik A. Heering, Michiel van den Hout, Ulrich F. Keyser, Bernard M. Koeleman, Diego Krapf, Serge G. Lemay, X. Sean Ling, Ralph M. M. Smeets, Derek Stein, Arnold J. Storm, Meng-Yue Wu, and with collaborators Jianghua Chen, Cees Storm, Jean-François Joanny, and Henny Zandbergen. The nanopore work at Delft is financially supported by FOM, NanoNed and NWO.

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  1. Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Lorentzweg 1, Delft, 2628 CJ, The Netherlands

    Cees Dekker

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Dekker, C. Solid-state nanopores. Nature Nanotech 2, 209–215 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2007.27

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