# US 9,518,294 B2 · Base-by-base ratcheting of DNA/RNA in a Y-shaped nanochannel

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- Number: US 9,518,294 B2
- Document ID: US9518294B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/615,924
- Filed: 2015-02-06
- Published: 2015-06-11
- Granted: 2016-12-13
- Earliest claimed: 2012-12-21
- Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation
- Applicants: International Business Machines Corporation
- Inventors: Binquan Luan; Ruhong Zhou
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9518294B2

## CPC

- C12Q 1/6869: Methods for sequencing
- G01N 27/447: using electrophoresis
- G01N 27/44791: {Microapparatus (sample containers with integrated microfluidic structures B01L3/5027)}
- G01N 27/453: Cells therefor
- G01N 33/48721: {Investigating individual macromolecules, e.g. by translocation through nanopores (Coulter counters in general G01N15/12; fabrication methods for nanoscale apertures B81B1/00; sequencing of nucleic acids C12Q1/68)}
- B82Y 5/00: Nanobiotechnology or nanomedicine, e.g. protein engineering or drug delivery
- B82Y 30/00: Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
- Y10S 977/742: Carbon nanotubes, CNTs
- Y10S 977/781: Possessing nonosized surface openings that extend partially into or completely through the host material
- Y10S 977/924: using nanostructure as support of dna analysis
- C12Q: MEASURING OR TESTING PROCESSES INVOLVING ENZYMES, NUCLEIC ACIDS OR MICROORGANISMS (immunoassay G01N33/53); COMPOSITIONS OR TEST PAPERS THEREFOR; PROCESSES OF PREPARING SUCH COMPOSITIONS; CONDITION-RESPONSIVE CONTROL IN MICROBIOLOGICAL OR ENZYMOLOGICAL PROCESSES
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- B82Y: SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS

## 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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for ratcheting a double strand molecule, the method comprising:
driving the double strand molecule into a first Y-channel and a second Y-channel of a membrane by a first voltage pulse, the first Y-channel includes a first stem and first branches, the first branches being connected to the first stem at a first junction;
wherein the second Y-channel includes a second stem and second branches formed in the membrane, the second branches being connected to the second stem at a second junction, wherein at least one of the second branches of the second Y-channel is connected to at least one of the first branches of the first Y-channel such that one or more of the first branches feeds into the second Y-channel;
slowing the double strand molecule at the first junction of the first Y-channel based on the first voltage pulse being weaker than a force required to break a base pair of the double strand molecule;
splitting the double strand molecule into a first single strand and a second single strand by driving the double strand molecule into the first junction of the first Y-channel at a second voltage pulse; and
reversing a direction of the double strand molecule through the membrane by discontinuing the first voltage pulse and the second voltage pulse.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the double strand molecule is deoxyribonucleic acid or ribonucleic acid.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the membrane comprises three or more Y-channels, each having its stem and corresponding branches.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the Y-channel is a Y-shaped carbon nanotube.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising alternatingly applying the first voltage pulse for a first time period and the second voltage pulse for a second time period until the double strand molecule has been completely split into the first single strand and the second single strand.