Methods for creating bilayers for use with nanopore sensors
AssigneeRoche Sequencing Solutions, Inc.
InventorsRandall Davis, Roger Chen
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Abstract
The present disclosure provides biochips and methods for making biochips. A biochip can comprise a nanopore in a membrane (e.g., lipid bilayer) adjacent or in proximity to an electrode. Methods are described for forming the membrane and insert-ing the nanopore into the membrane. The biochips and methods can be used for nucleic acid (e.g., DNA) sequencing. The present disclosure also describes methods for detecting, sorting, and binning molecules (e.g., proteins) using biochips.
Claims20
A method for forming a membrane for use in a nanopore sensor, comprising:
- (a) introducing a buffer solution over a plurality of wells, each well comprising an opening and an electrode and a material layer disposed over the opening of the well, wherein the buffer solution is electrically conductive, wherein the material layer comprises one or more polymers, and wherein the material layer does not comprise a lipid component;
- (b) bringing the buffer solution in contact with the material layer;
- (c) measuring an electrical property of the material layer with the electrode to characterize the material layer, wherein the electrical property is selected from the group consisting of current, capacitance and resistance;
- and
- (d) based on the measured electrical property of step (c), applying a stimulus to the material layer to induce at least a portion of the material layer to form a membrane over the opening of the well, wherein the membrane has a thickness that is less than a length of a nanopore such that the nanopore when inserted into the membrane extends through the membrane and wherein the material layer has a thickness that is greater than the length of the membrane such that the nanopore cannot extend through the material layer if it is inserted into the material layer.
A method for forming a membrane for use in a nanopore sensor, comprising:
- (a) introducing a buffer solution over a plurality of wells, each well comprising an opening and an electrode and a material layer disposed over the opening of the well, wherein the buffer solution is electrically conductive, wherein a hydrophilic surface of the electrode is exposed to a flow channel associated with the well, wherein the material layer comprises one or more polymers, and wherein the material layer does not comprise a lipid component;
- (b) bringing the buffer solution in contact with the material layer;
- (c) measuring an electrical property of the material layer with the electrode to characterize the material layer, wherein the electrical property is selected from the group consisting of current, capacitance and resistance;
- and
- (d) based on the measured electrical property of step (c), applying a stimulus to the material layer to induce at least a portion of the material layer to form a membrane over the opening of the well.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.