Single molecule optical spectroscopy in solid-state nanopores in a transmission-based approach

摘要

Methods and apparatus in the field of single molecule sensing are described, e.g. for molecular analysis of analytes such as molecular analytes, e.g. nucleic acids, proteins, polypeptides, peptides, lipids and polysaccharides. Molecular spectroscopy on a molecule translocating through a solid-state nanopore is described. Optical spectroscopic signals are enhanced by plasmonic field-confinement and antenna effects and probed in transmission by plasmon-enabled transmission of light through an optical channel that overlaps with the physical channel.

主权项

1. An apparatus comprising:
a membrane having a first and a second major surface and having a membrane-penetrating nanostructure between the first and second major surfaces, the membrane-penetrating nanostructure having an inner surface, the membrane being coated with metal on its first major surface and its second major surface and on the inner surface of the membrane-penetrating nanostructure, the metal coated on the inner surface of the membrane-penetrating nanostructure being continuous with the metal coated on the first major surface and the metal coated on the second major surface, a source of electromagnetic radiation that impinges radiation on the membrane-penetrating nanostructure in the direction of the first major surface, means for translocating molecules through the membrane-penetrating nanostructure, and a detection unit for detecting electromagnetic radiation that exits from the membrane-penetrating nanostructure away from the second major surface, transmission of electromagnetic radiation through the membrane-penetrating nanostructure being at least by excitation of surface plasmon polaritons in the membrane-penetrating nanostructure, wherein the membrane-penetrating nanostructure is further equipped with a field confining structure that creates an electromagnetic hotspot.