Published in Chemistry World, 20 Feb 2011
Researchers in the US have created nanopores that can capture, concentrate and shift molecules in predictable ways. The development – inspired by the waxy coating on insect antennae – could help to characterise proteins and membranes for therapeutic drugs.
Nanopores are a type of sensor used for detecting nanoscale objects such as single proteins, DNA and the molecules involved in chemical and biological reactions. Unlike ‘bulk’ sensors, nanopores enable scientists to see static and dynamic variations that would otherwise be lost among numerous other processes. Several teams are working towards nanopore systems that can sequence individual DNA molecules. […]
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