Systems 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.
Claims9
A system for forming a nanopore in a membrane, the system comprising:
- a chamber containing a nanopore forming solution, wherein the nanopore forming solution is deposited over a membrane;
- and
- a processor programmed to:
- control application of a voltage stimulus to the membrane, wherein the voltage stimulus comprises a voltage stimulus amplitude;
- control application of a measuring voltage stimulus to the membrane to determine whether the nanopore has been formed in the membrane;
- measure a response to the measuring voltage stimulus, wherein the measuring voltage stimulus comprises a measuring voltage stimulus amplitude and wherein an absolute magnitude of the voltage stimulus amplitude is different from an absolute magnitude of the measuring voltage stimulus amplitude;
- based on said measurement in response to the measuring voltage stimulus, detect whether a nanopore has been formed in the membrane;
- and
- in the event that a nanopore is not detected, iteratively initiating formation of a nanopore in the membrane by increasing the amplitude of the voltage stimulus applied to the membrane and detecting whether a nanopore has been formed in the membrane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.