Biological Channel Confinement in Nanostructured Nanopore

Abstract

The main challenge in the area of artificial single nanopores prepared by track-etched polymer sheets or transmission electron microscopy irradiation of thin silicon nitride film consists of mimicking biological channels.[1]1 In this context, the recent demonstration of the feasibility of hybrid biological/artificial solid-state nanopores by direct insertion of biological channels is likely the most original and promising way.[2]2 This strategy aims to combine the advantages of both solid-state nanopores (robustness, number, size and shape control) and biological channels (selectivity, precise structure). [3]3Here we will discuss about biological channel confinement inside single pore PET track-etched nanopore.Firstly, we will show that how the diameter pore size affects the ionic transport of gramicidin A (gA). Indeed when the gA is confined inside nanopores (10.6 nm, 5.7 nm, ∼2 nm), its exhibits an anionic behavior explained by the loss of gA head-head dimer structure. The conductance measurements reveal for the first time an enhanced ionic transport mechanism through gA inside a polymeric solid state nanopore as in biological membranes.