CONTROLLING NANOBUBBLE AND NANOPARTICLE DYNAMICS IN CONICAL NANOPORES

摘要

Systems and methods for detect, manipulate and characterize nanobubbles and nanoparticles in solution. These comprise use of a conical-shaped nanopore having a nanoparticle or nanobubble sensing zone configured to be in communication with a saline solution, and having a half-cone angle sufficiently small to provide for significant channel-like character at the nanopore. An electrode(s) is used to apply a voltage/potential across the nanopore to provide electrophoretic force (EPF) across the nanopore, the nanopore is subjected to an electroosmotic force (EOF), pressure is applied/adjusted across the nanopore, and wherein adjusting at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of EPF, EOF, and pressure across the nanopore, provides for fine control of particle or nanobubble translocation velocities across the sensing zone of the nanopore (e.g., by shifting the zero velocity point to an applied voltage/potential to provide for an acceptable signal-to-noise ratio).