Electrophoretic manipulation of single DNA molecules in nanofabricated capillaries.
We demonstrate the use of nanofabricated capillaries, integrated as part of a microfluidic structure, to study the electrophoretic behaviour of single, fluorescently-labelled, molecules of DNA as a function of capillary size. The nanocapillaries, fabricated using a focused ion beam, have cross-sections down to 150 x 180 nm. Control of single-molecule direction and velocity was achieved using voltage manipulation. DNA mobility was found to increase with decreasing cross-section, which we interpret in terms of reduced electro-osmotic counter-flow. Such nanofabricated capillaries as part of larger fluidic structures have great potential for biotechnology, particularly single molecule manipulation and analysis.
Campbell
L C
LC
University of Cambridge, Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, Pembroke Street, Cambridge, UK CB2 3Q2. colin.humphreys@msm.cam.ac.uk
Wilkinson
M J
MJ
Manz
A
A
Camilleri
P
P
Humphreys
C J
CJ
D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D004586:Electrophoresis / Q000379:methods*; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D044085:Microfluidics / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D036103:Nanotechnology
D004247:DNA