A Variable Cross-section Pore for Screening Cells for Specific Markers

Nanopores have emerged as a versatile tool for performing highly sensitive single-molecule measurements to probe the properties of proteins and nucleic acids. Interactions within a nanopore (due to pore functionalization with metals, oxides, or organic species) can result in slower translocation rates, thereby realizing “smart” nanopore sensors that provide insight into the properties of the particles that are transiting the pore. At the same time, while greatly enhancing its utility, functionalizing a pore with only one type of species limits the broader applicability of pores for biosensing.