Apparatus and method for molecular separation, purification, and sensing
AssigneeLux Bio Group, Inc.
InventorGordon HOLT
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Described are devices and methods for forming one or more nanomembranes including electroactive nanomembranes within a nanowell or nanotube, or combinations thereof, in a support material. Nanopores/nanochannels can be formed by the electroactive nanomembrane within corresponding nanowells. The electroactive nanomembrane is capable of controllably altering a dimension, a composition, and/or a variety of properties in response to electrical stimuli. Various embodiments also include devices/systems and methods for using the nanomembrane-containing devices for molecular separation, purification, sensing, etc.
Claims21
A device comprising:
- one or more nanowells or nanotubes or combinations thereof disposed within a support material, each nanotube comprising one or more sidewall electrodes, each nanowell comprising one or more sidewall electrodes and/or one or more bottom electrodes;
- one or more electroactive nanomembranes disposed on at least a portion of the one or more electrodes of the one or more nanowells or nanotubes or combinations thereof;
- and
- a lipid bilayer supported by the one or more electroactive nanomembranes, wherein the lipid bilayer is configured to allow insertion of a molecule.
A method for molecular separation, purification, and sensing, the method comprising:
- providing one or more nanotubes or nanowells or combinations thereof in a support material, each nanotube comprising one or more sidewall electrodes, each nanowell comprising one or more sidewall electrodes and/or one or more bottom electrodes, wherein an electroactive nanomembrane is disposed on at least a portion of one electrode of the one or more nanotubes or nanowells, or combinations thereof to form a nanopore or a nanochannel within a corresponding nanotube or nanowell, and wherein the electroactive nanomembrane is configured to alter a dimension, composition, hydrophobicity, hydrophilicity, charge, chemical binding, metallic, or metal binding property of the electroactive nanomembrane;
- and
- moving an analyte in the one or more of the nanopores or nanowells, or combinations thereof.
A method for molecular separation, purification, and sensing, the method comprising:
- providing one or more nanotubes or nanowells or combinations thereof in a support material, each nanotube comprising one or more sidewall electrodes, each nanowell comprising one or more sidewall electrodes and/or one or more bottom electrodes, wherein an electroactive nanomembrane is disposed on at least a portion of one electrode of the one or more nanotubes or nanowells, or combinations thereof to form a nanopore or a nanochannel within a corresponding nanotube or nanowell, and wherein the electroactive nanomembrane is configured to alter a dimension, composition, hydrophobicity, hydrophilicity, charge, chemical binding, metallic, or metal binding property of the electroactive nanomembrane;
- moving an analyte in the one or more of the nanopores or nanowells, or combinations thereof;
- and
- immobilizing the analyte by neutralizing a net charge of the analyte by applying electrical stimuli as the analyte moves across the one or more electroactive nanomembranes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.