Integration of Pore Proteins into Electronic Nanostructures for Biosensing

Protein nanopores used for macromolecule biosensing and translocation of polymers across lipid membranes are an exciting field of research which has seen a rapid development over the past 15 years. They can facilitate the transfer of biologically important target molecules across membranes at high fidelity. They are particularly attractive for nanopore platforms because protein engineering offers an effective tool to tailor their analytical capabilities. Moreover, self-assembly allows reproducibility from one pore to the next at atomic resolution. The aim of our research is the use of biological ion and water channels within nanoscale electronic devices. For this, already existent and characterized protein channels with diameters of a few nanometers are implemented into silicium chips. Microelectronic circuits on the micropores determine the activity of single protein channels by time-resolved measurements of the current. The combination of solid state (Silicon nitride) and biological nanopore techniques will provide the basis for the development of a hybridmembrane biochip for molecular analytics and filtration.