Abstract: There is provided a nanopore sensor including cis and trans fluidic reservoirs. A nanopore is provided in a support structure separating the cis and trans reservoirs. The nanopore has an inlet in fluidic connection with the cis fluidic reservoir and an outlet in fluidic connection with the trans fluidic reservoir. The cis fluidic reservoir has a fluidic access resistance, RC, the trans fluidic reservoir has a fluidic access resistance, RT, and the nanopore has a fluidic resistance, RP. RP is of the same order of magnitude as RT and both RP and RT are at least an order of magnitude greater than RC. An electrical transduction element is disposed at a nanopore sensor site that exposes the transduction element to the trans reservoir. An electrical circuit is connected to the electrical transduction element for producing an electrical signal indicative of changes in electrical potential local to the trans reservoir.

Abstract: To sense the translocation of a molecule through a nanopore, there is directed to an inlet of the nanopore, having a nanopore fluidic resistance, RP, a molecule disposed in a cis fluidic ionic solution having a cis fluidic access resistance, RC. The molecule is caused to translocate through the nanopore from the inlet of the nanopore to an outlet of the nanopore and to a trans fluidic ionic solution having a trans fluidic access resistance, RT. The trans fluidic access resistance, RT, is of the same order of magnitude as the nanopore fluidic resistance, RP, and both RT and RP are at least an order of magnitude greater than the cis fluidic access resistance, RC. An indication of local electrical potential is produced at a site within the nanopore sensor that is on the trans fluidic ionic solution-side of the nanopore, to sense translocation of the molecule through the nanopore.

Abstract: There is provided a nanopore sensor including cis and trans fluidic reservoirs. A nanopore is provided in a support structure separating the cis and trans reservoirs. The nanopore has an inlet in fluidic connection with the cis fluidic reservoir and an outlet in fluidic connection with the trans fluidic reservoir. The cis fluidic reservoir has a fluidic access resistance, RC, the trans fluidic reservoir has a fluidic access resistance, RT, and the nanopore has a fluidic resistance, RP. RP is of the same order of magnitude as RT and both RP and RT are at least an order of magnitude greater than RC. An electrical transduction element is disposed at a nanopore sensor site that exposes the transduction element to the trans reservoir. An electrical circuit is connected to the electrical transduction element for producing an electrical signal indicative of changes in electrical potential local to the trans reservoir.

Abstract: There is provided a multi-channel nanopore sensor having a plurality of independent nanopore sensors. Each independent nanopore sensor includes a nanopore disposed in a support structure. A fluidic connection is between a first fluidic reservoir, common to all of the independent nanopore sensors, and an inlet to the nanopore, with a first ionic solution of a first ionic concentration disposed in the first fluidic reservoir. A fluidic connection is between a second fluidic reservoir, common to all of the independent nanopore sensors, and an outlet from the nanopore, with a second ionic solution of a second ionic concentration, different than the first ionic concentration, disposed in the second fluidic reservoir. An electrical transduction element, disposed in contact with that ionic solution having a lower ionic concentration, is arranged at a site that produces an electrical signal indicative of electrical potential local to that ionic solution having a lower ionic concentration.

Abstract: There is provided a multi-channel nanopore sensor having a plurality of independent nanopore sensors. Each independent nanopore sensor includes a nanopore disposed in a support structure. A fluidic connection is between a first fluidic reservoir, common to all of the independent nanopore sensors, and an inlet to the nanopore, with a first ionic solution of a first ionic concentration disposed in the first fluidic reservoir. A fluidic connection is between a second fluidic reservoir, common to all of the independent nanopore sensors, and an outlet from the nanopore, with a second ionic solution of a second ionic concentration, different than the first ionic concentration, disposed in the second fluidic reservoir. An electrical transduction element, disposed in contact with that ionic solution having a lower ionic concentration, is arranged at a site that produces an electrical signal indicative of electrical potential local to that ionic solution having a lower ionic concentration.

Abstract: There is provided a method for sensing the translocation of a molecule through a nanopore. In the method, there is directed to an inlet of a nanopore a molecule that is disposed in a first ionic solution of a first ionic concentration. The molecule is caused to translocate through the nanopore from the inlet of the nanopore to an outlet of the nanopore and into a second ionic solution of a second ionic concentration that is different than the first ionic concentration. An electrical potential, local to that ionic solution, of the first and second ionic solutions, which has a lower ionic concentration, is measured while the molecule is caused to translocate through the nanopore.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to nanoscale wires, and to methods of producing nanoscale wires. In some aspects, the nanoscale wires are nanowires comprising a core which is continuous and a shell which may be continuous or discontinuous, and/or may have regions having different cross-sectional areas. In some embodiments, the shell regions are produced by passing the shell material (or a precursor thereof) over a core nanoscale wire under conditions in which Plateau-Raleigh crystal growth occurs, which can lead to non-homogenous deposition of the shell material on different regions of the core. The core and the shell each independently may comprise semiconductors, and/or non-semiconductor materials such as semiconductor oxides, metals, polymers, or the like. Other embodiments are generally directed to systems and methods of making or using such nanoscale wires, devices containing such nanoscale wires, or the like.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to nanoscale wires and tissue engineering. In various embodiments, cell scaffolds for growing cells or tissues can be formed that include nanoscale wires that can be connected to electronic circuits extending externally of the cell scaffold. The nanoscale wires may form an integral part of cells or tissues grown from the cell scaffold, and can even be determined or controlled, e.g., using various electronic circuits. This approach allows for the creation of fundamentally new types of functionalized cells and tissues, due to the high degree of electronic control offered by the nanoscale wires and electronic circuits. Accordingly, such cell scaffolds can be used to grow cells or tissues which can be determined and/or controlled at very high resolutions, due to the presence of the nanoscale wires, and such cell scaffolds will find use in a wide variety of novel applications, including applications in tissue engineering, prosthetics, pacemakers, implants, or the like.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to nanoscale wires and tissue engineering. Systems and methods are provided in various embodiments for preparing cell scaffolds that can be used for growing cells or tissues, where the cell scaffolds comprise nanoscale wires. In some cases, the nanoscale wires can be connected to electronic circuits extending externally of the cell scaffold. Such cell scaffolds can be used to grow cells or tissues which can be determined and/or controlled at very high resolutions, due to the presence of the nanoscale wires, and such cell scaffolds will find use in a wide variety of novel applications, including applications in tissue engineering, prosthetics, pacemakers, implants, or the like. This approach thus allows for the creation of fundamentally new types of functionalized cells and tissues, due to the high degree of electronic control offered by the nanoscale wires and electronic circuits.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to injectable electronics. In some aspects, the present invention is generally directed to systems and methods for interfacing an electrical cable with electrical elements, such as nanoscale wires, that are injected or otherwise introduced into a subject. The subject may be living or non-living. In one set of embodiments, electrical elements introduced within a subject may be placed in electrical communication to a circuit board using a plurality of electrically isolated contacts that the circuit board can clamp or otherwise connect to. The electrical contacts may be in electrical communication with the electrical elements using a joining portion. The circuit board can also be connected to an electrical cable that can be attached, for example, to a computer. In some cases, the electrical cable can be attached or detached to or from the circuit board, e.g.

Abstract: A solid state molecular sensor having an aperture extending through a thickness of a sensing material is configured with a continuous electrically-conducting path extending in the sensing material around the aperture. A supply reservoir is connected to provide a molecular species, having a molecular length, from the supply reservoir to an input port of the aperture. A collection reservoir is connected to collect the molecular species from an output port of the aperture after translocation of the molecular species from the supply reservoir through the sensing aperture. The sensing aperture has a length between the input and output ports, in the sensing material, that is substantially no greater than the molecular length of the molecular species from the supply reservoir. An electrical connection to the sensing material measures a change in an electrical characteristic of the sensing material during the molecular species translocation through the aperture.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to nanoscale wires, including anisotropic deposition in nanoscale wires. In one set of embodiments, material may be deposited on certain portions of a nanoscale wire, e.g., anisotropically. For example, material may be deposited on a first facet of a crystalline nanoscale wire but not on a second facet. In some cases, additional materials may be deposited thereon, and/or the portions of the nanoscale wire may be removed, e.g., to produce vacant regions within the nanoscale wire, which may contain gas or other species. Other embodiments of the invention may be directed to articles made thereby, devices containing such nanoscale wires, kits involving such nanoscale wires, or the like.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to nanoscale wires, nanoscale sensing elements, and/or injectable devices. In some embodiments, the present invention is directed to electronic devices that can be injected or inserted into soft matter, such as biological tissue or polymeric matrixes. For example, the device may be passed through a tube into the medium. To avoid or minimize crumpling, the device may exit the tube at substantially the same rate that the tube is withdrawn from the medium. Other components, such as fluids or cells, may also be injected or inserted. In addition, in some cases, the device, after insertion or injection, may be connected to an external electrical circuit, for example, by printing a conductive path on a medium or on a flexible substrate. The path may be printed using conductive inks, e.g., containing carbon nanotubes or other suitable materials.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to nanoscale wires and other nanomaterials, including nanoscale wires used as sensors, including nanoscale wires comprising semiconductor nanowires, carbon nanotubes, graphene, or metal oxide nanomaterials. Certain aspects of the invention are generally directed to polymer coating on nanoscale wires that can be used to increase sensitivity to analytes, for example, in physiologically relevant conditions. For example, the polymer may have an average pore size comparable in size to an analyte. Accordingly, in some cases, the nanoscale wires can be used as sensors, even in ionic solutions, e.g., under physiologically relevant conditions. Other aspects of the invention include assays, sensors, kits, and/or other devices that include such nanoscale wires, methods of making and/or using such nanoscale wires, or the like.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to nanotechnology and sub-microelectronic circuitry, as well as associated methods and devices, for example, nanoscale wire devices and methods for use in determining nucleic acids or other analytes suspected to be present in a sample. For example, a nanoscale wire device can be used in some cases to detect single base mismatches within a nucleic acid. In one aspect, dynamical information such as a binding constant, an association rate, and/or a dissociation rate, can be determined between a nucleic acid or other analyte, and a binding partner immobilized relative to a nanoscale wire. In some cases, the nanoscale wire includes a first portion comprising a metal-semiconductor compound, and a second portion that does not include a metal-semiconductor compound. The binding partner, in some embodiments, is immobilized relative to at least the second portion of the nanoscale wire.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to nanoscale wires and, in particular, to nanoscale wires with heterojunctions, such as tip-localized homo- or heterojunctions. In one aspect, the nanoscale wire may include a core, an inner shell surrounding the core, and an outer shell surrounding the inner shell. The outer shell may also contact the core, e.g., at an end portion of the nanoscale wire. In some cases, such nanoscale wires may be used as electrical devices. For example a p-n junction may be created where the inner shell is electrically insulating, and the core and the outer shell are p-doped and n-doped. Other aspects of the present invention generally relate to methods of making or using such nanoscale wires, devices, or kits including such nanoscale wires, or the like.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to nanoscale wires and tissue engineering. Systems and methods are provided in various embodiments for preparing cell scaffolds that can be used for growing cells or tissues, where the cell scaffolds comprise nanoscale wires. In some cases, the nanoscale wires can be connected to electronic circuits extending externally of the cell scaffold. Such cell scaffolds can be used to grow cells or tissues which can be determined and/or controlled at very high resolutions, due to the presence of the nanoscale wires, and such cell scaffolds will find use in a wide variety of novel applications, including applications in tissue engineering, prosthetics, pacemakers, implants, or the like. This approach thus allows for the creation of fundamentally new types of functionalized cells and tissues, due to the high degree of electronic control offered by the nanoscale wires and electronic circuits.

Abstract: There is provided a method for sensing the translocation of a molecule through a nanopore. In the method, there is directed to an inlet of a nanopore a molecule that is disposed in a first ionic solution of a first ionic concentration. The molecule is caused to translocate through the nanopore from the inlet of the nanopore to an outlet of the nanopore and into a second ionic solution of a second ionic concentration that is different than the first ionic concentration. An electrical potential, local to that ionic solution, of the first and second ionic solutions, which has a lower ionic concentration, is measured while the molecule is caused to translocate through the nanopore.

Abstract: There is provided a nanopore disposed in a support structure, with a fluidic connection between a first fluidic reservoir and an inlet to the nanopore and a second fluidic connection between a second fluidic reservoir and an outlet from the nanopore. A first ionic solution of a first buffer concentration is disposed in the first reservoir and a second ionic solution of a second buffer concentration, different than the first concentration, is disposed in the second reservoir, with the nanopore providing the sole path of fluidic communication between the first and second reservoirs. An electrical connection is disposed at a location in the nanopore sensor that develops an electrical signal indicative of electrical potential local to at least one site in the nanopore sensor as an object translocates through the nanopore between the two reservoirs.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to nanoscale wires and/or injectable devices. In some embodiments, the present invention is directed to electronic devices that can be injected or inserted into soft matter, such as biological tissue or polymeric matrixes. For example, the device may be passed through a syringe or a needle. In some cases, the device may comprise one or more nanoscale wires. Other components, such as fluids or cells, may also be injected or inserted. In addition, in some cases, the device, after insertion or injection, may be connected to an external electrical circuit, e.g., to a computer. Other embodiments are generally directed to systems and methods of making, using, or promoting such devices, kits involving such devices, and the like.