Next Generation hybrid nanopores: membrane scaffolding for a better fit

The goal of this PhD is the realization of a novel, reliable and scalable method for the incorporation of a biological nanopore into a solid-state nanopore, to result in a hybrid nanopore with atomic-scale precision. This novel hybrid nanopore approach has the potential to enable the large-scale integration of biological nanopores in an ultra-scaled solid-state nanopore sensor chip. This approach has great potential in proteomics, biomarker discovery and DNA data storage.
Solid-state nanopores have the capacity to measure in harsh conditions, which is necessary for proteomics. On top of this, solid-state nanopores can integrate a FET to provide a high bandwidth and can easily be placed in arrays, allowing large quantities of molecules to be measured individually. This would result in a superior limit of detection and concentration dynamic range. However, solid-state nanopores suffer from a pore-to-pore variability in the production process and an insufficient resolution. The integrated biological nanopores would bring a reproducible resolution and atomic-scale precision.
This PhD research aims to develop a novel approach for obtaining hybrid nanopores, also called the interposer approach. It has the potential to provide hybrid nanopores with atomic-scale precision, but without suffering from the state-of-the-art hybrid nanopore leakage and misfit problems by membrane scaffolding.