Advances in resistive pulse sensors: Devices bridging the void between molecular and microscopic detection

Abstract

Since the first reported use of a biological ion channel to detect differences in single stranded genomic base pairs in 1996, a renaissance in nanoscale resistive pulse sensors has ensued. This resurgence of a technique originally outlined and commercialized over fifty years ago has largely been driven by advances in nanoscaled fabrication, and ultimately, the prospect of a rapid and inexpensive means for genomic sequencing as well as other macromolecular characterization. In this pursuit, the potential application of these devices to characterize additional properties such as the size, shape, charge, and concentration of nanoscaled materials (10 – 900 nm) has been largely overlooked. Advances in nanotechnology and biotechnology are driving the need for simple yet sensitive individual object readout devices such as resistive pulse sensors. This review will examine the recent progress in pore-based sensing in the nanoscale range. A detailed analysis of three new types of pore sensors – in-series, parallel, and size-tunable pores – has been included. These pores offer improved measurement sensitivity over a wider particle size range. The fundamental physical chemistry of these techniques, which is still evolving, will be reviewed.

Resistive pulse sensing of magnetic beads and supraparticle structures using tunable pores

“…3,34,35 Similar approaches have been extensively applied in other resistive pulse studies. [15][16][17][23][24][25]28,[70][71][72] For investigation of particle clusters, we extend the model to accommodate multiple on-axis particles, thereby improving on the established approach for sizing spheres using the proportionality of pulse magnitude and particle volume. 3,34 The pore geometry used was a truncated cone of larger opening radius b, with a symmetric constriction of radius a located a distance c from the trans-membrane surface ( Fig.…”

“…4 Consequently, resistive pulse research has diversified over three orders of length scale magnitude, from single molecules to cells. 16 Within this range, many particle types present opportunities for improved characterization or quality control-drug delivery capsules, viruses, functionalized particles for diagnostic assays, blood platelets, emulsions, and magnetic beads are a few important examples. The sophistication of resistive pulse sensing has also increased, making use of channels made from carbon nanotubes, 17,18 glass, [19][20][21][22][23] silicon, 5,8,15,24 polymers, [25][26][27][28] and elastomers.…”

Particle-by-Particle Charge Analysis of DNA-Modified Nanoparticles Using Tunable Resistive Pulse Sensing

“…A relatively recent technology to be developed for the characterisation of nanoparticles is based upon tunable resistive pulse sensing (TRPS) [44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51] . TRPS is based on polyurethane elastomeric membranes in which the pore geometry can be altered in real time.…”

Monitoring Aptamer–Protein Interactions Using Tunable Resistive Pulse Sensing

“…Technology platforms have also become more robust and reproducible to the extent that assays based upon nanomaterials offer significant advantages over conventional diagnostic systems with regard to assay sensitivity, selectivity, and practicality [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] . Following the advancement of material synthesis, a range of new characterisation technologies capable of monitoring and measuring the size, surface chemistry, shape, optical, magnetic and even electrochemical properties have emerged [14][15][16][17][18][19][20] .…”