title: Modulating DNA translocation by a controlled deformation of a PDMS nanochannel device.
abstract: Several strategies have been developed for the control of DNA translocation in nanopores and nanochannels. However, the possibility to reduce the molecule speed is still challenging for applications in the field of single molecule analysis, such as ultra-rapid sequencing. This paper demonstrates the possibility to alter the DNA translocation process through an elastomeric nanochannel device by dynamically changing its cross section. More in detail, nanochannel deformation is induced by a macroscopic mechanical compression of the polymeric device. This nanochannel squeezing allows slowing down the DNA molecule passage inside it. This simple and low cost method is based on the exploitation of the elastomeric nature of the device, can be coupled with different sensing techniques, is applicable in many research fields, such as DNA detection and manipulation, and is promising for further development in sequencing technology.
authors.affiliation: Nanomed Labs, Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Genova, via Dodecaneso 33 Genova, 16146, Italy. paola.fanzio@unige.it
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fanzio
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Manneschi
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Angeli
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mussi
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Firpo
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ceseracciu
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Repetto
authors.forename: Ugo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Valbusa
mesh_terms: D010582:Bacteriophage lambda / Q000737:chemistry; D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D058608:Nanopores / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D011108:Polymers; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers; D004247:DNA