Single molecule nanoparticle nanowire for molecular electronic sensing

A method for making a molecular complex configured to bridge a nanogap between a complementary pair of electrodes, the method comprising:

• forming a nucleic acid having a first and a second functionalized ends;
• forming a plurality of nanoparticles, the plurality of nanoparticles comprising a first nanoparticle and a second nanoparticle;
• conjugating the first functionalized end of the nucleic acid with the first nanoparticle;
• and
• conjugating the second functionalized end of the nucleic acid with the second nanoparticle;
• wherein the nucleic acid comprises two complementary single stranded nucleic acids with terminal 3′ thiol modification to conjugate separately with each of the first and the second nanoparticles;
• and
• wherein the nanoparticles include a stabilized compound resulting from a reaction of a citrate compound on the surface of the nanoparticle with bis(p-sulfonatophenyl)phenylphosphine dihydrate dipotassium salt (BSPP);
• and
• wherein the molecular complex is configured to freely suspend in the nanogap through an electrostatic force between the molecular complex and the pair of electrodes.

A molecular sensor array, comprising:

• a plurality of sensors, at least one sensor having:
• a first nanoelectrode and a second nanoelectrode, the first and the second nanoelectrodes separated by a nanogap, the first nanoelectrode and the second nanoelectrodes forming an electrode pair;
• a molecular complex extended between the first nanoelectrode and the second nanoelectrode, the molecular complex further comprising:
• a biomolecule having first end and a second end, wherein at least one of the first end or the second ends of the biomolecule comprises a terminal 3′ thiol modification;
• a first nanoparticle to couple with the first end of the biomolecule;
• a second nanoparticle to couple with the second end of the biomolecule;
• and
• the first end of the biomolecule is conjugated to the first nanoparticle and the second end of the biomolecule is conjugated to the second nanoparticle;
• wherein the biomolecule is functionalized with a terminal 3′ thiol modification to conjugate separately with each of the first and the second nanoparticles;
• wherein the molecular complex is configured to freely suspend in the nanogap between the electrode pair through an electrostatic force;
• and
• wherein the nanoparticles include a stabilized compound resulting from a reaction of a citrate compound on the surface of the nanoparticle with bis(p-sulfonatophenyl)phenylphosphine dihydrate dipotassium salt (BSPP).