Branched nanochannel devices for detection and sorting of nucleic acids
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Publication Number
US-12023673-B2
Publication Date
2024-07-02
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to devices and methods for the detection and/or sorting of nucleic acids. Further disclosed are methods for device fabrication.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a method for detecting a nucleic acid using a device that comprises a branched nanochannel and three or more fluid chambers connected by the branched nanochannel. The branched nanochannel includes three or more nanopores, where two or more nanopores are adjacent to each other on different branches of the branched nanochannel. A different electrode is positioned within each of the three or more fluid chambers, and these electrodes are used to apply electric potentials and measure electric current.
The method applies an electric potential across each pair of different electrodes in the three or more fluid chambers. Two or more different electric potentials are applied on the two or more nanopores adjacent to each other on different branches of the branched nanochannel, and electric current is measured across each pair of different electrodes in the fluid chambers. Nucleic acid passage through the nanopores is detected as current blockage of the nanopores.
The disclosure further supports detecting nucleic acids with control of different electric potentials for sorting into different fluid chambers connected to different branches of the branched nanochannel. The method also supports adjusting potentials in different steps to intercept and reverse a nucleic acid’s passage through one nanopore, and accommodating nucleic acids configured such that a linearized nucleic acid can pass through the nanopores. Additional refinements address nucleic acid forms and assay-related features such as single-stranded versus double-stranded nucleic acid detection and probe hybridization with probe attachments that alter blockage.
Claims Coverage
The partial content identifies one independent claim. The independent claim covers a multi-chamber, branched nanochannel device with electrode-pair electric potentials and current measurement, where nucleic acid passage is detected as current blockage, specifically exploiting adjacent nanopores on different branches driven by different applied potentials.
Multi-chamber branched nanochannel with adjacent nanopores on different branches
The method uses a device comprising a branched nanochannel connecting three or more fluid chambers, with three or more nanopores in the branched nanochannel such that two or more nanopores are adjacent to each other on different branches of the branched nanochannel.
Electrode pairs in multiple fluid chambers for applying potentials
The device includes a different electrode within each of the three or more fluid chambers, and the method applies an electric potential across each pair of different electrodes in the three or more fluid chambers.
Different potentials applied to adjacent nanopores on different branches
The method applies two or more different electric potentials on the two or more nanopores adjacent to each other on different branches of the branched nanochannel.
Current measurement across electrode pairs and detection as current blockage
The method measures an electric current across each pair of different electrodes in the fluid chambers and detects the passage of nucleic acid through the nanopores as current blockage of the nanopores.
Overall, the independent claim ties together a branched nanochannel with multiple chambers and adjacent nanopores on different branches, multiple electrodes in each chamber, application of different potentials to adjacent nanopores, and detection of nucleic acid passage via measured current blockage.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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