A glass nanopore electrode for single molecule detection

We have developed a simple method for fabricating robust and low noise glass nanopore electrodes with pore size 10±5 nm to detect single molecules.β-Cyclodextrin was used as model compound for characterization.In 1.0 mol/L NaCl solution,the molecules generated current pulses of 2-5 pA with noise level less than 0.8 pA.A slide mode and a plug mode were suggested for the way ofβ-cyclodextrin single molecule moving into the glass nanopores.

Single-atom metal-nitrogen-carbon catalysts energize single molecule detection for biosensing

Biosensors featuring single molecule detection present huge opportunities as well as challenges in food safety inspection,disease diagnosis,and environmental monitoring.Single-molecule detection is largely lacking of high enough activity,precision molecule selectivity,and understanding in the exact operating mechanism.Single-atom catalysts(SACs),especially those metals-nitrogen-carbon that mimic the natural metalloenzyme structure,and with well-defined metal atom bond configurations,high level of molecular selectivity,and easy fabrication,endow single molecule detections with practical-use feasibilities.The recent advances in single-atom catalysts also present new pathways in the key mechanism understandings.In this short review,we will first visit the brief history and advantages of SACs that have been explored only recently for molecule-scale biosensors,where they are analogous and also differentiated from those nanozymes and natural metalloenzymes.Their applications in electrochemical,photochemical,and photoelectrochemical sensors are then discussed comprehensively by focusing on the different molecule-scale sensing modes in achieving local coordination-modulated signal amplifications.Finally,we identify new opportunities and challenges faced by these SACs-based single molecule detections in the further development of biosensors.

Biofunctionalized semiconductor quantum dots for virus detection

Virus is a kind of microorganism and possesses simple structure and contains one nucleic acid,which must be replicated using the host cell system.It causes large-scale infectious diseases and poses serious threats to the health,social well-being,and economic conditions of millions of people worldwide.Therefore,there is an urgent need to develop novel strategies for accurate diagnosis of virus infection to prevent disease transmission.Quantum dots(QDs)are typical fluorescence nanomaterials with high quantum yield,broad absorbance range,narrow and size-dependent emission,and good stability.QDs-based nanotechnology has been found to be effective method with rapid response,easy operation,high sensitivity,and good specificity,and has been widely applied for the detection of different viruses.However,until now,no systematic and critical review has been published on this important research area.Hence,in this review,we aim to provide a comprehensive coverage of various QDs-based virus detection methods.The fundamental investigations have been reviewed,including information related to the synthesis and biofunctionalization of QDs,QDs-based viral nucleic acid detection strategies,and QDs-based immunoassays.The challenges and perspectives regarding the potential application of QDs for virus detection is also discussed.

Advances in DNA Origami Nanopores： Fabrication：Characterization and Applications

In recent years, bio-nanopore and solid-state nanopore have been greatly improved for molecule bio-sensing. Whereas, the development of this scientific field seems to have encountered a bottleneck due to their respective limitations. The small pore size of the former impedes the detection of large single molecule, and the latter is difficult to achieve similar accuracy and functional control. DNA origami plays a novel role to bring more opportuni- ties for the development of nanopore technology since it is relatively easy to synthesize and modify. This review mainly focuses on introducing the DNA origami nanopore fabrication methods, characterization and application. Meanwhile, the challenges in the present DNA origami nanopore research are also discussed.