# US 10,501,792 B2 · Nanochannel compositions and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,501,792 B2 - Document ID: US10501792B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/110,546 - Filed: 2015-01-16 - Published: 2016-12-08 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2014-01-17 - Applicants: Seth Harvey Lichter; Thomas Brian Sisan - Inventors: Seth Harvey Lichter; Thomas Brian Sisan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10501792B2 ## CPC - C12Q 1/6869: Methods for sequencing - C01B 32/168: After-treatment - G01F 1/00: Measuring the volume flow or mass flow of fluid or fluent solid material wherein the fluid passes through a meter in a continuous flow (measuring a proportion of the volume flow G01F5/00) - G01N 33/6818: {Sequencing of polypeptides} - B82Y 15/00: Nanotechnology for interacting, sensing or actuating, e.g. quantum dots as markers in protein assays or molecular motors - B82Y 40/00: Manufacture or treatment of nanostructures - Y10S 977/842: for carbon nanotubes or fullerenes - Y10S 977/904: for medical, immunological, body treatment, or diagnosis - C12Q: MEASURING OR TESTING PROCESSES INVOLVING ENZYMES, NUCLEIC ACIDS OR MICROORGANISMS (immunoassay G01N33/53); COMPOSITIONS OR TEST PAPERS THEREFOR; PROCESSES OF PREPARING SUCH COMPOSITIONS; CONDITION-RESPONSIVE CONTROL IN MICROBIOLOGICAL OR ENZYMOLOGICAL PROCESSES - C01B: NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; {METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C} - G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - B82Y: SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract Disclosed herein is a composition comprising a nanochannel and a contained substance, wherein the nanochannel comprises a single-file nanochannel and the contained substance comprises a plurality of substance particles arranged in a single-file chain within the nanochannel. Methods and systems for molecular transport of a substance through a nanochannel are also provided that rely upon the use of nanojumps, where nanojumps mediate the transport through the nanochannel. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A composition comprising a nanotube having a length and a substance contained within the nanotube, said substance comprising a plurality of substance particles arranged in a single-file fashion along the length of the nanotube, wherein said substance particles are arranged to include at least one nanojump, wherein said nanojump comprises a localized region within said nanotube wherein the average density of the substance particles within said nanojump differs from the average density of the substance particles in regions of similar size outside of said nanojump but within the same nanotube, and wherein the substance particles in said regions of similar size outside of said nanojump but within the same nanotube are relatively stationary as substance particles within said nanojump region are transported along said nanotube by said nanojump. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1 wherein the nanotube is a single-walled nanotube. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, wherein the nanotube is a multi-walled nanotube. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1 wherein the substance contained within the nanotube comprises a plurality of water molecules. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The composition of claim 4 wherein said plurality of water molecules are below the bulk freezing temperature of water. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1 wherein the substance contained within the nanotube comprises a plurality of amino acids. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1 wherein the substance contained within the nanotube comprises a plurality of nucleotides. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1 wherein said nanotube has an internal diameter that is between about 5.4 angstroms and about 10.2 angstroms. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1 wherein the substance is a peptide. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1 wherein the substance is a protein. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1 wherein the substance is a polymer. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1 wherein the substance is a DNA strand. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1 wherein the substance is an RNA strand. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1 consisting of 1 or 2 nanojumps. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1 further comprising a device for applying a potential difference across the length of a nanotube. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1 wherein the substance contained within the nanotube comprises a plurality of metal atoms. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1 wherein the substance contained within the nanotube comprises a plurality of copper atoms. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1 wherein the substance contained within the nanotube comprises a plurality of silicon atoms. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1 wherein the substance contained within the nanotube comprises a plurality of gold atoms. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1 wherein said substance particles are below the bulk freezing temperature of said substance under standard pressure. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1 wherein said substance particles are below about 75K. ### Claim 22 An array of nanotubes, each nanotube having a length and each nanotube containing a substance within the nanotube, said substance comprising a plurality of substance particles arranged in a single-file fashion along the length of the nanotube, and wherein said substance particles are arranged to include at least one nanojump, wherein said nanojump comprises a localized region within said nanotube wherein the average density of the substance particles within said nanojump differs from the average density of the substance particles in regions of similar size outside of said nanojump but within the same nanotube, wherein the substance particles in said regions of similar size outside of said nanojump but within the same nanotube are relatively stationary as substance particles within said nanojump region are transported along said nanotube by said nanojump. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The array of claim 22 wherein the substance contained in each nanotube is water. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The array of claim 22 wherein the array has a first end in fluid communication with a first reservoir comprising said substance. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The array of claim 22 wherein each nanotube has an internal diameter that is between about 5.4 angstroms and about 10.2 angstroms. ### Claim 26 (depends on 22) The array of claim 22 comprising two or more of: a first nanotube containing a plurality of adenine nucleotides, a second nanotube containing a plurality of cytosine nucleotides, a third nanotube containing a plurality of guanine nucleotides, a fourth nanotube containing a plurality of thymine nucleotides, a fifth nanotube containing a plurality of uracil nucleotides, and a sixth nanotube containing a plurality of other nucleotides. ### Claim 27 (depends on 22) The array of claim 22 wherein said substance in each nanotube contains a plurality of an amino acid. ### Claim 28 (depends on 22) The array of claim 22 wherein said substance particles are peptides. ### Claim 29 (depends on 22) The array of claim 22 wherein said substance particles are proteins. ### Claim 30 (depends on 22) The array of claim 22 wherein said substance particles are nucleic acid strands. ### Claim 31 A method of moving a substance from within a nanotube to an exterior position comprising: (a) arranging a plurality of particles of said substance in a single-file fashion along the length of said nanotube, (b) forming at least one nanojump within said nanotube, wherein said nanojump comprises a localized region within said nanotube wherein the average density of the substance particles within said nanojump differs from the average density of the substance particles in regions of similar size outside of said nanojump but within the same nanotube, and wherein the substance particles in said regions of similar size outside of said nanojump but within the same nanotube are relatively stationary as substance particles within said nanojump region are transported along said nanotube by said nanojump. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The method of claim 31 further comprising depositing said substance onto a substrate. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The method of claim 32 wherein said substance is silicon. ### Claim 34 (depends on 32) The method of claim 32 wherein said substance is copper. ### Claim 35 (depends on 32) The method of claim 32 wherein said depositing yields one or more than one quantum dots. ### Claim 36 (depends on 32) The method of claim 32 wherein said substance is gold. ### Claim 37 (depends on 32) The method of claim 32 wherein said substance is gallium. ### Claim 38 (depends on 32) The method of claim 32 wherein said substance is a transition metal. ### Claim 39 (depends on 32) The method of claim 32 wherein said substance is hydrogen. ### Claim 40 (depends on 31) The method of claim 31 further comprising ejecting said substance into a solution. ### Claim 41 (depends on 31) The method of claim 31 wherein said substance is a nucleotide. ### Claim 42 (depends on 31) The method of claim 31 wherein said substance is an amino acid. ### Claim 43 (depends on 31) The method of claim 31 wherein said substance is a peptide. ### Claim 44 (depends on 31) The method of claim 31 wherein said substance is a protein. ### Claim 45 (depends on 31) The method of claim 31 wherein said substance is a nucleic acid strand. ### Claim 46 (depends on 31) The method of claim 31 wherein said substance is silicon. ### Claim 47 (depends on 31) The method of claim 31 wherein said substance is copper. ### Claim 48 (depends on 31) The method of claim 31 wherein said substance is gold. ### Claim 49 (depends on 31) The method of claim 31 wherein said substance is gallium. ### Claim 50 (depends on 31) The method of claim 31 wherein said substance is a transition metal. ### Claim 51 (depends on 31) The method of claim 31 wherein said substance is hydrogen. ### Claim 52 (depends on 31) The method of claim 31 wherein said substance includes nanocrystals. ### Claim 53 (depends on 31) The method of claim 31 wherein said substance includes nanoparticles. ### Claim 54 (depends on 31) The method of claim 31 wherein said quantum dots are formed after said substance is moved from within the nanotube to an exterior position. ### Claim 55 A method of sequencing a strand of a substance comprising multiple subunits comprising: moving at least part of a strand of a substance lengthwise through a nanotube by forming at least one nanojump within said nanotube, wherein said nanojump comprises a localized region within said nanotube wherein the average density of the substance within said nanojump differs from the average density of the substance in regions of similar size outside of said nanojump but within the same nanotube; and advancing said substance from within the nanotube by the passage of said at least one nanojump to a location outside of the nanotube by an amount equal to about one single subunit of said substance; wherein the substance subunits in said regions of similar size outside of said nanojump hut within the same nanotube are relatively stationary as substance subunits within said nanojump region are transported along said nanotube by said nanojump; and measuring one or more properties of said one single subunit. ### Claim 56 (depends on 55) The method of claim 55 wherein said substance is a polymer comprising monomer subunits. ### Claim 57 (depends on 55) The method of claim 55 wherein said substance is a protein comprising amino acid subunits. ### Claim 58 (depends on 55) The method of claim 55 wherein said substance is a nucleic acid sequence comprising nucleotide subunits. ### Claim 59 A method of transporting at least one charged particle through a nanotube comprising: arranging a chain of substance particles contained within said nanotube in a single file fashion along the length of the nanotube; and forming at least one nanojump within said nanotube, wherein said nanojump comprises a localized region within said nanotube wherein the average density of the substance particles within said nanojump differs from the average density of the substance particles in regions of similar size outside of said nanojump but within the same nanotube, and wherein the substance particles in said regions of similar size outside of said nanojump but within the same nanotube are relatively stationary as substance particles within said nanojump region are transported along said nanotube by said nanojump, and transporting a charged particle along the chain of substance particles. ### Claim 60 (depends on 59) The method of claim 59 wherein said charged particle is a proton. ### Claim 61 (depends on 59) The method of claim 59 wherein said charged particle is an electron. ### Claim 62 A system for transporting a substance through a nanotube comprising: (a) a nanotube having a length and a substance contained within the nanotube, said substance comprising a plurality of molecules arranged in a single-file fashion-along the length of the nanotube, and (b) a nanojump-forming device coupled to said nanotube, wherein (1) said nanojump comprises a localized region within said nanotube wherein the average density of the substance particles within said nanojump differs from the average density of the substance particles in regions of similar size outside of said nanojump but within the same nanotube, and (2) wherein the substance particles in said regions of similar size outside of said nanojump but within the same nanotube are relatively stationary as substance particles within said nanojump region are transported along said nanotube by said at least one nanojump. ### Claim 63 (depends on 62) The system of claim 62 further comprising a detector configured to measure an electric potential difference. ### Claim 64 A method of generating power comprising: transporting a substance comprising a plurality of substance particles through a nanotube, wherein at least a portion of said substance particles couple with at least a or some electrons in the wall of said nanotube yielding an electrical current, wherein said nanotube has a diameter that is: (a) larger than the diameter of a single particle of said substance and two atomic radii of the appropriate constituent of the nanotube wall, and (b) smaller than twice the diameter of a single particle of said substance and two atomic radii of the appropriate constituent of the nanotube wall, wherein said method further comprises forming at least one nanojump, wherein said nanojump comprises a localized region within said nanotube wherein the average density of the substance particles within said nanojump differs from the average density of the substance particles in regions of similar size outside of said nanojump but within the same nanotube, and wherein the substance particles in said regions of similar size outside of said nanojump but within the same nanotube are relatively stationary as substance particles within said nanojump region are transported along said nanotube by said at least one nanojump. ### Claim 65 A method of creating one or more than one nanojump in a nanotube with a substance contained therein, said substance comprising a plurality of particles arranged in a single file fashion along the length of the nanotube, by applying a periodic field to said substance, wherein said nanojump comprises a localized region within said nanotube wherein the average density of the substance particles within said nanojump differs from the average density of the substance particles in regions of similar size outside of said nanojump but within the same nanotube, and wherein the substance particles in said regions of similar size outside of said nanojump but within the same nanotube are relatively stationary as substance particles within said nanojump region are transported along said nanotube by said at least one nanojump. ### Claim 66 A method of transporting a substance in a nanotube comprising: forming at least one nanojump in a nanotube comprising a substance, said substance comprising a plurality of substance particles arranged in a single file fashion along the length of the nanotube; and transporting said substance by the passage of at least one nanojump, wherein said nanojump comprises a localized region within said nanotube wherein the average, density of the substance particles within said nanojump differs from the average density of the substance particles in regions of similar size outside of said nanojump but within the same nanotube, and wherein the substance particles within said regions of similar size outside of said nanojump but within the same nanotube remain relatives stationary as substance particles within said nanojump region are transported along said nanotube by said at least one nanojump. ### Claim 67 (depends on 66) The method of claim 66 wherein said substance is a plurality of water molecules arranged in a single-file fashion along the length of the nanotube. ### Claim 68 (depends on 67) The method or claim 67 wherein the temperature of said plurality of water molecules is about 273 K or below. ### Claim 69 (depends on 66) The method of claim 66 wherein said substance is at least one protein oriented lengthwise along the length of the nanotube. ### Claim 70 (depends on 66) The method of claim 66 wherein said substance is at least one nucleic acid strand oriented lengthwise along the length of the nanotube. ### Claim 71 (depends on 66) The method of claim 66 wherein said substance comprises a plurality of amino acids arranged in a single-file fashion along the length of the nanotube. ### Claim 72 (depends on 66) The method of claim 66 wherein said substance comprises a plurality of nucleotides arranged in a single-file fashion along the length of the nanotube. ### Claim 73 (depends on 66) The method of claim 66 wherein the temperature of said substance in said nanotube is below the bulk freezing temperature of said substance under standard pressure. ### Claim 74 (depends on 66) The method of claim 66 wherein the temperature of said substance in said nanotube is about 75 K or below. ### Claim 75 (depends on 66) The method of claim 66 wherein at least one nanojump is formed by application of pressure to the nanotube. ### Claim 76 (depends on 66) The method of claim 66 wherein at least one nanojump is formed by application of an electric field to the nanotube. ### Claim 77 (depends on 66) The method of claim 66 wherein said nanotube has an internal diameter that is between about 5.4 angstroms and about 10.2 angstroms. ### Claim 78 (depends on 66) The method of claim 66 wherein said nanotube has a first end in fluid communication with a first reservoir comprising said substance, wherein said nanotube has a second end in fluid communication with a second reservoir consisting essentially of said substance, and wherein at least some substance is transported from said first reservoir through said nanotube and into said second reservoir. ### Claim 79 (depends on 78) The method of claim 78 wherein said substance is water. ### Claim 80 (depends on 66) The method of claim 66 wherein at least 10 nanojumps are formed. ### Claim 81 (depends on 66) The method of claim 66 wherein the nanotube has a length and a potential difference is applied across the length of the nanotube. ### Claim 82 (depends on 66) The method of claim 66 consisting of 1 or 2 nanojumps. ### Claim 83 (depends on 66) The method of claim 66 further comprising a method of designing said nanotube comprising selecting a number of nanojumps for said nanotube and further comprising three or more of: (a) selecting a material for nanotube construction; (b) selecting a substance to be placed within said nanotube; (c) sizing the nanotube radius to accommodate only a single-file chain of said second substance within the interior of said nanotube; and (d) sizing the nanotube length to accommodate at least one nanojump. ### Claim 84 (depends on 66) The method of claim 66 further comprising a method of selecting operating conditions for said nanotube comprising at least two of: (a) selecting a number of nanojumps within said nanotube via external conditions, said number equal to or greater than one; (b) selecting the distance between nanojumps when more than one nanojump is present; (c) selecting a type of and magnitude of potential difference to apply across said nanotube; and (d) selecting a temperature so as to increase transport rates. ### Claim 85 (depends on 84) The method of claim 84 comprising employing the FK model. ### Claim 86 (depends on 85) The method of claim 85 further comprising determining nanojump speed. ### Claim 87 (depends on 85) The method of claim 85 employing the Toda potential. ### Claim 88 (depends on 85) The method of claim 85 employing the Hull function approach. ### Claim 89 (depends on 66) The method of claim 66 further comprising simulating said nanojump computationally using molecular dynamics. ### Claim 90 (depends on 89) The method of claim 89 wherein the temperature of the substance is below the bulk freezing temperature of said substance. ### Claim 91 (depends on 89) The method of claim 89 wherein atoms comprising said nanotube are replaced by a potential energy grid. ### Claim 92 (depends on 91) The method of claim 91 wherein cutoff distances are set larger than about 1.7 nm. ### Claim 93 (depends on 89) The method of claim 89 wherein cutoff distances are set larger than about 1.7 nm and wherein long range electrostatic calculations are turned off. ### Claim 94 A method of controlling a chemical reaction comprising: filling a first nanotube with a substance comprising a plurality of substance particles arranged in a single file fashion along the length of said first nanotube, forming at least one nanojump within said first nanotube, wherein said nanojump comprises a localized region within said first nanotube wherein the average density of the substance particles within said nanojump differs from the average density of the substance particles in regions of similar size outside of said nanojump but within said first nanotube; and wherein the substance particles within said regions of similar size outside of said nanojump but within the first nanotube remain relatively stationary as substance particles within said nanojump region are transported along said first nanotube by said at least one nanojump; forming a second nanotube containing a substance comprising a plurality of substance particles arranged in a single file fashion along the length of said second nanotube, forming at least one nanojump within said second nanotube, wherein said nanojump comprises a localized region within said second nanotube wherein the average density of the substance particles within said nanojump differs from the average density of the substance particles in regions of similar size outside of said nanojump but within the second nanotube; and wherein the substance particles within said regions of similar size outside of said nanojump but within the second nanotube remain relatively stationary as substance particles within said nanojump region are transported along said second nanotube by said at least one nanojump; transporting a least a portion of said first substance from within the first nanotube by the passage of said at least one nanojump to a location outside of the first nanotube; and transporting at least a portion of said second substance from within the second nanotube by the passage of said at least one nanojump to a location outside of the second nanotube to facilitate a reaction at a location outside of said first nanotube and at a location outside of said second nanotube between at least a portion of said first substance and at least a portion of said second substance.