DNA/RNA in a Y-shaped nanochannel
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsBinquan Luan, Ruhong Zhou
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A mechanism is provided for ratcheting a double strand molecule. The double strand molecule is driven into a Y-channel of a membrane by a first voltage pulse. The Y-channel includes a stem and branches, and the branches are connected to the stem at a junction. The double strand molecule is slowed at the junction of the Y-channel based on the first voltage pulse being weaker than a force required to break a base pair of the double strand molecule. The double strand molecule is split into a first single strand and a second single strand by driving the double strand molecule into the junction of the Y-channel at a second voltage pulse.
Claims9
A system for ratcheting a double strand molecule, the system comprising:
- a membrane comprising a first Y-channel, the first Y-channel comprises a first stem, a first left branch, and a first right branch formed in the membrane, the first left and right branches being connected to the first stem at a first junction;
- a second Y-channel comprising a second stem, a second left branch, and a second right branch formed in the membrane, the second left and right branches being connected to the second stem at a second junction, wherein the second stem of the second Y-channel is connected to the first left branch of the first Y-channel such that the first left branch feeds into the second Y-channel, wherein the second junction comprises a sharp end configured to separate base pairs, wherein the first stem comprises a diameter of 4-10 nm, the first left branch comprises a diameter of 2-4 nm, the first right branch comprises a diameter of 2-4 nm, and the sharp end of the second junction comprises an angle of 30-120 degrees;
- a top fluidic chamber on one side of the membrane and a bottom fluidic chamber on an opposing side of the membrane, such that the first and second Y-channels communicate with both the top fluidic chamber and the bottom fluidic chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.