Methods for forming a nanopore in a lipid bilayer
AssigneeRoche Sequencing Solutions, Inc.
InventorsRoger J. A. Chen, Randall Davis
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Abstract
A method of forming a nanopore in a lipid bilayer is disclosed. A nanopore forming solution is deposited over a lipid bilayer. The nanopore forming solution has a concentration level and a corresponding activity level of pore molecules such that nanopores are substantially not formed un-stimulated in the lipid bilayer. Formation of a nanopore in the lipid bilayer is initiated by applying an agitation stimulus level to the lipid bilayer. In some embodiments, the concentration level and the corresponding activity level of pore molecules are at levels such that less than 30 percent of a plurality of available lipid bilayers have nanopores formed un-stimulated therein.
Claims11
A method for forming a nanopore in a membrane, the method comprising:
- depositing a nanopore forming solution over a membrane;
- applying a voltage stimulus waveform across the membrane to preferentially insert a nanopore into the membrane through an active mechanism that depends on the application of the voltage stimulus waveform across the membrane and a concentration of nanopores in the nanopore forming solution, wherein the nanopore is preferentially inserted via the active mechanism over a passive mechanism that depends on a self-assembly process;
- and
- applying a measuring voltage stimulus to the membrane to determine whether the nanopore has been inserted in the membrane based on a measurement in response to the measuring voltage stimulus, wherein an absolute magnitude of the voltage stimulus waveform amplitude is different from an absolute magnitude of the measuring voltage stimulus amplitude.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.