Probing solid-state nanopores with light for the detection of unlabeled analytes.

Nanopore sensing has enabled label-free single-molecule measurements on a wide variety of analytes, including DNA, RNA, and protein complexes. Much progress has been made toward biotechnological applications; however, electrically probing the ion current introduces nonideal noise components. Here we further develop a method to couple an ionic current to a photon-by-photon counting of fluorescent signal from Ca(2+)-sensitive dyes and demonstrate label-free optical detection of biopolymer translocation through solid-state nanopores using TIRF and confocal microscopy.

pH tuning of DNA translocation time through organically functionalized nanopores.

Controlling DNA translocation speed is critically important for nanopore sequencing as free electrophoretic threading is far too rapid to resolve individual bases. A number of promising strategies have been explored in recent years, largely driven by the demands of next-generation sequencing. Engineering DNA-nanopore interactions (known to dominate translocation dynamics) with organic coatings is an attractive method as it does not require sample modification, processive enzymes, or complicated and expensive fabrication steps.

Weak rolling adhesion enhances bacterial surface colonization.

Bacterial adhesion to and subsequent colonization of surfaces are the first steps toward forming biofilms, which are a major concern for implanted medical devices and in many diseases. It has generally been assumed that strong irreversible adhesion is a necessary step for biofilm formation. However, some bacteria, such as Escherichia coli when binding to mannosylated surfaces via the adhesive protein FimH, adhere weakly in a mode that allows them to roll across the surface.