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Tailoring the hydrophobicity of graphene for its use as nanopores for DNA translocation

Author

Listed:
  • Grégory F. Schneider

    (Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology)

  • Qiang Xu

    (Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology)

  • Susanne Hage

    (Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology)

  • Stephanie Luik

    (Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology)

  • Johannes N. H. Spoor

    (Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology)

  • Sairam Malladi

    (Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology)

  • Henny Zandbergen

    (Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology)

  • Cees Dekker

    (Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology)

Abstract

Graphene nanopores are potential successors to biological and silicon-based nanopores. For sensing applications, it is however crucial to understand and block the strong nonspecific hydrophobic interactions between DNA and graphene. Here we demonstrate a novel scheme to prevent DNA–graphene interactions, based on a tailored self-assembled monolayer. For bare graphene, we encounter a paradox: whereas contaminated graphene nanopores facilitated DNA translocation well, clean crystalline graphene pores very quickly exhibit clogging of the pore. We attribute this to strong interactions between DNA nucleotides and graphene, yielding sticking and irreversible pore closure. We develop a general strategy to noncovalently tailor the hydrophobic surface of graphene by designing a dedicated self-assembled monolayer of pyrene ethylene glycol, which renders the surface hydrophilic. We demonstrate that this prevents DNA to adsorb on graphene and show that single-stranded DNA can now be detected in graphene nanopores with excellent nanopore durability and reproducibility.

Suggested Citation

  • Grégory F. Schneider & Qiang Xu & Susanne Hage & Stephanie Luik & Johannes N. H. Spoor & Sairam Malladi & Henny Zandbergen & Cees Dekker, 2013. "Tailoring the hydrophobicity of graphene for its use as nanopores for DNA translocation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 4(1), pages 1-7, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:4:y:2013:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms3619
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms3619
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    Cited by:

    1. Jianxin Yang & Tianle Pan & Zhenming Xie & Wu Yuan & Ho-Pui Ho, 2024. "In-tube micro-pyramidal silicon nanopore for inertial-kinetic sensing of single molecules," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Arnab Maity & Haihui Pu & Xiaoyu Sui & Jingbo Chang & Kai J. Bottum & Bing Jin & Guihua Zhou & Yale Wang & Ganhua Lu & Junhong Chen, 2023. "Scalable graphene sensor array for real-time toxins monitoring in flowing water," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.

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