Abstract: Barriers including crosslinked amphiphilic molecules, and methods of making the same, are provided herein. In some examples, a barrier between first and second fluids includes at least one layer comprising a plurality of amphiphilic molecules. Amphiphilic molecules of the plurality of amphiphilic molecules are crosslinked to one another.

Abstract: Methods of inserting a nanopore into a polymeric membrane are provided herein. The membrane may be destabilized using a chaotropic solvent. The nanopore may be inserted into the destabilized polymer membrane. The chaotropic solvent may be removed to stabilize the polymer membrane with the nanopore inserted therein.

Abstract: Barriers including molecules covalently bonded to amphiphilic molecules, and methods of making the same, are provided herein. In some examples, a barrier between first and second fluids includes one or more layers comprising a plurality of amphiphilic molecules; and a first layer comprising a plurality of molecules covalently bonded to amphiphilic molecules of the plurality of amphiphilic molecules.

Abstract: Nanopore devices including barriers using polymers with end groups, and methods of making the same, are provided herein. In some examples, a barrier between first and second fluids is provided. The barrier may be suspended by a barrier support defining an aperture. The barrier may include one or more layers suspended across the aperture and including molecules of a block copolymer. Each molecule of the block copolymer may include one or more hydrophilic blocks having an approximate length A and one or more hydrophilic blocks having an approximate length B. The hydrophilic blocks may form outer surfaces of the barrier and the hydrophobic blocks being located within the barrier. End groups may be coupled to ends of the hydrophilic blocks that form outer surfaces of the barrier. The end groups may have a different hydrophilicity than the hydrophilic blocks.

Abstract: Nanopore devices including barriers using diblock or triblock copolymers, and methods of making the same, are provided herein. In some examples, a barrier between first and second fluids is suspended by a barrier support defining an aperture. The barrier may include one or more layers suspended across the aperture and including molecules of a block copolymer. Each molecule of the block copolymer may include one or more hydrophilic blocks having an approximate length A and one or more hydrophobic blocks having an approximate length B. The hydrophilic blocks may form outer surfaces of the barrier and the hydrophobic blocks may be located within the barrier. The hydrophobic blocks may include a polymer selected from the group consisting of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS), polybutadiene (PBd), polyisoprene, polymyrcene, polychloroprene, hydrogenated polydiene, fluorinated polyethylene, polypeptide, and poly(isobutylene) (PIB).