Overview
Though optical and mechanical nanosensors may operate near their intrinsic noise floors, electronic platforms often plateau at limits determined jointly by the sensors and their electronic acquisition circuits. We have invented a low-noise method for the detection and determination of biomolecules obtained from high-speed electron-tunneling measurements.
Market Opportunity
Single biomolecules are faster, weaker, and more stochastic than their macroscale counterparts. Consequently, single-molecule measurements are constrained by poor signal-to-noise ratios, and temporal resolution is commonly sacrificed for lower noise amplitudes. In addition, stochastic behaviors are fundamental to nanoscale systems. Thus, there is a need for new, higher-resolution tools to better capture these phenomena and improve our understanding of how the biological world works at its smallest and fastest scales.
Innovation and Meaningful Advantages
Our novel method for tunneling-recognition sequencing consists of inserting a new intact sold-state membrane in a measurement system; forming at least one nanopore by applying a high voltage to the measurement system; flowing in an analyte sample across at least one nanopore; measuring a tunneling current produced by at least one molecule of the analyte; and analyzing at least one measurement of the tunneling current. This method results in faster, cheaper, higher-fidelity molecular diagnostics, including improved DNA sequencing and single-molecule protein-detection. The improved ability to study single biomolecules not only enhances research in biology, chemistry, and physics; potentially, it can also inform the design and analysis of engineered nanoscale devices and sensors.
Collaboration Opportunity
We are interested in exploring 1) startup opportunities with investors in the medical instrumentation space; 2) research collaborations with leading medical instrumentation companies; and 3) licensing opportunities with medical instrumentation companies.
Principal Investigator
Jacob Rosenstein, PhD
Associate Professor of Engineering
Brown University
IP Information
US Patent 10,274,477, Issued April 30, 2019
Publication
Larkin JW, Henley R, Bell DC, Cohen-Karni T, Rosenstein JK, Wanunu M. Detection of Single Biopolymers at High Current Bandwidth with Hafnium Oxide Nanopores. Biophysical Journal. 2014 Jan 28;106(2) supplement 1:413A-414A. doi.org/10.1016/j.bpj.2013.11.2327.
Contact
Melissa Simon, PhD
Director of Business Development
Brown Tech ID 2336