Systems and methods for forming a nanopore in a lipid bilayer
AssigneeRoche Sequencing Solutions, Inc.
InventorsRoger J. A. Chen, Randy Davis
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Abstract
Techniques for forming a nanopore in a lipid bilayer are described herein. In one example, an agitation stimulus level such as an electrical agitation stimulus is applied to a lipid bilayer wherein the agitation stimulus level tends to facilitate the formation of nanopores in the lipid bilayer. In some embodiments, a change in an electrical property of the lipid bilayer resulting from the formation of the nanopore in the lipid bilayer is detected, and a nanopore has formed in the lipid bilayer is determined based on the detected change in the lipid bilayer electrical property.
Claims17
A method of forming a nanopore in a lipid bilayer including:
- determining by a processor that a lipid bilayer is formed in a nanopore cell based on a first measurement from a sensing circuit;
- in response to the determination that the lipid bilayer is formed and after nanopore forming molecules are deposited on the lipid bilayer, controlling by the processor a source to apply an agitation stimulus level to the lipid bilayer for up to one second, causing a disruption in the lipid bilayer that tends to facilitate the formation of nanopores in the lipid bilayer;
- and
- controlling by the processor the source to apply a checking stimulus level following the agitation stimulus level to the lipid bilayer and determining that a nanopore has been formed based on a second measurement received from the sensing circuit sensing in response to the checking stimulus level, wherein an absolute magnitude of the agitation stimulus level is greater than an absolute magnitude of the checking stimulus level.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.