CPSA 2011

Science and Technology Coming Together to Make a Difference

October 3 - 6, 2011
Bucks County Sheraton Hotel
Langhorne, PA

Program Abstract

Wednesday, AM Parallel Track I

Single Molecule Detection and Analysis with Nanostructures

Benjamin Cipriany
Harold Craighead
Cornell University, Ithaca NY USA

We have used a variety of nanofabrication methods to engineer structures of controlled geometry for integration of fluidics, optics and electronics to form integrated analytical and chemical preparatory systems. We have studied miniaturization of separation techniques in micro and nanofluidic systems, and also explored new physical processes for molecular separations that exist because of the small dimensions and controlled geometries of the systems. We have explored, for example, the use of nanochannel arrays for isolating individual fluorescently labeled molecules for detection, identification and quantification. Molecular recognition and detection of individual molecular binding events are done by correlating the fluorescence of an individual labeled antibody or aptamer with the fluorescence from the target molecule. This enables us to quantify a wide dynamic range of target molecule concentrations from small volume samples.

We have for some time been targeting individual nucleic acid molecules for analysis. We have begun activity on single-molecule epigenetic analysis by identification of labeled epigenetic marks on individual chromatin fragments. In addition to identification and quantification of the presence of individually labeled marks we are able to automatically sort and recover selected fragments for subsequent analysis. Related approaches allow us to extract DNA from intact chromosomes from individual cells and to rapidly select aptamers for specific targets. The talk will address the technologies and approaches we are exploring for these devices and studies.

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