Center for Superfunctional Materials, Department of Chemistry, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Hyojadong, Namgu, Pohang 790-784, Korea.
Nat Nanotechnol. 2011 Mar;6(3):162-5. doi: 10.1038/nnano.2010.283. Epub 2011 Feb 6.
Devices in which a single strand of DNA is threaded through a nanopore could be used to efficiently sequence DNA. However, various issues will have to be resolved to make this approach practical, including controlling the DNA translocation rate, suppressing stochastic nucleobase motions, and resolving the signal overlap between different nucleobases. Here, we demonstrate theoretically the feasibility of DNA sequencing using a fluidic nanochannel functionalized with a graphene nanoribbon. This approach involves deciphering the changes that occur in the conductance of the nanoribbon as a result of its interactions with the nucleobases via π-π stacking. We show that as a DNA strand passes through the nanochannel, the distinct conductance characteristics of the nanoribbon (calculated using a method based on density functional theory coupled to non-equilibrium Green function theory) allow the different nucleobases to be distinguished using a data-mining technique and a two-dimensional transient autocorrelation analysis. This fast and reliable DNA sequencing device should be experimentally feasible in the near future.
在单链 DNA 通过纳米孔的设备中，可以高效地对 DNA 进行测序。然而，要使这种方法实用化，还需要解决各种问题，包括控制 DNA 易位率、抑制随机核碱基运动，以及解决不同核碱基之间的信号重叠问题。在这里，我们从理论上证明了使用功能化的流体纳米通道的 DNA 测序的可行性，该纳米通道由石墨烯纳米带组成。这种方法涉及通过π-π 堆积来破译由于纳米带与核碱基相互作用而导致的纳米带电导的变化。我们表明，当 DNA 链穿过纳米通道时，纳米带的独特电导特性（使用基于密度泛函理论与非平衡格林函数理论相结合的方法计算）允许使用数据挖掘技术和二维瞬态自相关分析来区分不同的核碱基。这种快速可靠的 DNA 测序设备在不久的将来应该具有实验可行性。
