Hybrid Biological/Solid-State Nanopores

Abstract

Biomolecular translocation through the bacterial nanopore α hemolysin (αHL) has been suggested as a possible platform for next generation sequencing technology. In this method, a single protein pore is inserted in an otherwise impermeable lipid membrane and an applied electric field is used to drive charged biomolecules like DNA through it. Information like nucleotide sequence could then conceivably be read from the molecule as it translocates linearly to the other side. One challenge to the incorporation of this system into wafer-scale device architectures, however, is its reliance on a delicate lipid bilayer for mechanical support. The solid-state (SS) nanopore- composed of a single, fabricated aperture in a thin, solid-state membrane- offers a potential solution with demonstrated durability and integration potential. But, this system lacks the atomically resolved interior structure and genetic engineering ability of the protein pore. Here we present a potential solution that consists of a combination of the two systems, wherein a single αHL protein pore is inserted directly into a SS nanopore with orientation control, yielding a robust hybrid system.