Nanopore sensing specific enhancement technique for single molecule detection

Abstract

Nanopore sensors have become important tools for analyzing biomarkers, including but not limited to nucleic acids, proteins, and other biomolecules that play important roles in life. Though the nanopores themselves have no selectivity towards target molecules, higher sensitivity of nanopore sensing to the target biomarkers could be achieved with the help of the specificity enhancement technology. In this work, the basic principles of nanopore sensing are first introduced, then methods of modifying nanopore surface as well as the development and application of those selectivity enhancement technologies of nanopore sensing in recent years are reviewed. These enhancement technologies primarily fall into two categories: surface functionalization and molecular probes. Surface functionalization is further categorized based on the types of functional molecules used, while molecular probes are classified according to carrier forms. Finally, in this paper several challenges that nanopore sensing continues to encounter are discussed and some suggestions are made for its future development.