title: Chemically modified solid state nanopores for high throughput nanoparticle separation.
abstract: The separation of biomolecules and other nanoparticles is a vital step in several analytical and diagnostic techniques. Towards this end we present a solid state nanopore-based set-up as an efficient separation platform. The translocation of charged particles through a nanopore was first modeled mathematically using the multi-ion model and the surface charge density of the nanopore membrane was identified as a critical parameter that determines the selectivity of the membrane and the throughput of the separation process. Drawing from these simulations a single 150 nm pore was fabricated in a 50 nm thick free-standing silicon nitride membrane by focused-ion-beam milling and was chemically modified with (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane to change its surface charge density. This chemically modified membrane was then used to separate 22 and 58 nm polystyrene nanoparticles in solution. Once optimized, this approach can readily be scaled up to nanopore arrays which would function as a key component of next-generation nanosieving systems.
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Engineering and Health Science, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Anmiv S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Prabhu
authors.forename: Talukder Zaki N
authors.initials: TZ
authors.lastname: Jubery
authors.forename: Kevin J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Freedman
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mulero
authors.forename: Prashanta
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dutta
authors.forename: Min Jun
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D008422:Materials Testing; D008956:Models, Chemical; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010316:Particle Size; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016062:Porosity; D017655:Silicon Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties; D014462:Ultrafiltration / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D011137:Polystyrenes; D017655:Silicon Compounds; C032734:silicon nitride