Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for analysis of peptide photodissociation for single-molecule protein sequencing. In one aspect, systems and methods are directed to allowing one to fragment a single protein molecule in aqueous solution so that its composition and sequence of amino acids can be measured by mass spectrometry. This may be useful for single-molecule protein sequencing technology.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to mass spectrometers, including but not limited to mass spectrometers able to emit ions at determinable times. In some aspects, the time between when ions leave an ion source and the time the ions reach a detector may be determined at a relatively high time resolutions, which may be useful for certain applications such as sequencing of biopolymers. In addition, in some cases, a relatively high number of ions leaving an ion source may be determined at a detector, e.g., at least 50% or more of the ions that are produced. Other aspects are generally directed to systems and methods for using such mass spectrometers, techniques involving such mass spectrometers, or the like.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates in certain embodiments to the creation of ionized molecules, e.g., for detection in a mass spectrometer, or for other uses such as lithography, sputtering machines, propulsion etc. Some embodiments include an ion source comprising a capillary tip that may allow for direct ion evaporation of samples with an applied electric field. In some cases, the tip may have an opening with a cross-section less than 100 nm. In addition, certain aspects are directed to using a capillary tip that allow for detection of samples (e.g. amino acids), and in some cases allows for sequencing. For instance, some embodiments are directed to allowing single ions and ionic clusters to be evaporated at a high rate directly from aqueous samples in a mass spectrometer. Other aspects are directed to methods for making or using such ionized molecules, methods for making or using devices to create such ionized molecules, or the like.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to devices and methods for containing molecules. In some embodiments, the device comprises a nanopore, a pore, and a cavity capable of entropically containing (e.g., trapping) a molecule (e.g., a biomolecule), e.g., for minutes, hours, or days. In certain embodiments, the method comprises urging a molecule into a cavity of a device by application of an electric field, and/or by deposition of fluids having different ionic strengths. The molecule may comprise, in some cases, nucleic acids (e.g., DNA). The molecule, when present in the cavity and/or the nanopore, may be capable of being analyzed, determined, or chemically modified. In some instances, a second molecule (e.g., a second molecule which interacts the first molecule) may also be urged into the cavity. In some embodiments, the interaction of the second molecule with the first molecule (e.g.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to devices and methods for containing molecules. In some embodiments, the device comprises a nanopore, a pore, and a cavity capable of entropically containing (e.g., trapping) a molecule (e.g., a biomolecule), e.g., for minutes, hours, or days. In certain embodiments, the method comprises urging a molecule into a cavity of a device by application of an electric field, and/or by deposition of fluids having different ionic strengths. The molecule may comprise, in some cases, nucleic acids (e.g., DNA). The molecule, when present in the cavity and/or the nanopore, may be capable of being analyzed, determined, or chemically modified. In some instances, a second molecule (e.g., a second molecule which interacts the first molecule) may also be urged into the cavity. In some embodiments, the interaction of the second molecule with the first molecule (e.g.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to devices and methods for containing molecules. In some embodiments, the device comprises a nanopore, a pore, and a cavity capable of entropically containing (e.g., trapping) a molecule (e.g., a biomolecule), e.g., for minutes, hours, or days. In certain embodiments, the method comprises urging a molecule into a cavity of a device by application of an electric field, and/or by deposition of fluids having different ionic strengths. The molecule may comprise, in some cases, nucleic acids (e.g., DNA). The molecule, when present in the cavity and/or the nanopore, may be capable of being analyzed, determined, or chemically modified. In some instances, a second molecule (e.g., a second molecule which interacts the first molecule) may also be urged into the cavity. In some embodiments, the interaction of the second molecule with the first molecule (e.g.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to mass spectrometry and related techniques, and in some cases, to determining single species using mass spectrometry. In certain instances, polymers such as DNA or RNA can also be sequenced. Certain embodiments of the invention relate to passing a polymer, such as DNA, RNA, a protein, a polypeptide, a polysaccharide, etc., through a pore and cleaving the polymer in sequence. For instance, the polymer may be cleaved using a laser or an electric field. In some embodiments, a property of at least one subunit of a polymer is determined using mass spectrometry. In some embodiments, a single ion (which may be a subunit of a polymer, or an ion based on another species) can be isolated in a mass spectrometer and a signal generated from the single ion.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to mass spectrometry and related techniques, and in some cases, to determining single species using mass spectrometry. In certain instances, polymers such as DNA or RNA can also be sequenced. Certain embodiments of the invention relate to passing a polymer, such as DNA, RNA, a protein, a polypeptide, a polysaccharide, etc., through a pore and cleaving the polymer in sequence. For instance, the polymer may be cleaved using a laser or an electric field. In some embodiments, a property of at least one subunit of a polymer is determined using mass spectrometry. In some embodiments, a single ion (which may be a subunit of a polymer, or an ion based on another species) can be isolated in a mass spectrometer and a signal generated from the single ion.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to mass spectrometry and related techniques, and in some cases, to determining single species using mass spectrometry. In certain instances, polymers such as DNA or RNA can also be sequenced. Certain embodiments of the invention relate to passing a polymer, such as DNA, RNA, a protein, a polypeptide, a polysaccharide, etc., through a pore and cleaving the polymer in sequence. For instance, the polymer may be cleaved using a laser or an electric field. In some embodiments, a property of at least one subunit of a polymer is determined using mass spectrometry. In some embodiments, a single ion (which may be a subunit of a polymer, or an ion based on another species) can be isolated in a mass spectrometer and a signal generated from the single ion.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to mass spectrometry and related techniques, and in some cases, to determining single species using mass spectrometry. In certain instances, polymers such as DNA or RNA can also be sequenced. Certain embodiments of the invention relate to passing a polymer, such as DNA, RNA, a protein, a polypeptide, a polysaccharide, etc., through a pore and cleaving the polymer in sequence. For instance, the polymer may be cleaved using a laser or an electric field. In some embodiments, a property of at least one subunit of a polymer is determined using mass spectrometry. In some embodiments, a single ion (which may be a subunit of a polymer, or an ion based on another species) can be isolated in a mass spectrometer and a signal generated from the single ion.

Abstract: A solid state nanopore device including two or more materials and a method for fabricating the same. The device includes a solid state insulating membrane having an exposed surface, a conductive material disposed on at least a portion of the exposed surface of the solid state membrane, and a nanopore penetrating an area of the conductive material and at least a portion of the solid state membrane. During fabrication a conductive material is applied on a portion of a solid state membrane surface, and a nanopore of a first diameter is formed. When the surface is exposed to an ion beam, material from the membrane and conductive material flows to reduce the diameter of the nanopore. A method for evaluating a polymer molecule using the solid state nanopore device is also described. The device is contacted with the polymer molecule and the molecule is passed through the nanopore, allowing each monomer of the polymer molecule to be monitored.

Abstract: For controlling a physical dimension of a solid state structural feature, a solid state structure is provided, having a surface and having a structural feature. The structure is exposed to a first periodic flux of ions having a first exposure duty cycle characterized by a first ion exposure duration and a first nonexposure duration for the first duty cycle, and then at a second periodic flux of ions having a second exposure duty cycle characterized by a second ion exposure duration and a second nonexposure duration that is greater than the first nonexposure duration, for the second duty cycle, to cause transport, within the structure including the structure surface, of material of the structure to the structural feature in response to the ion flux exposure to change at least one physical dimension of the feature substantially by locally adding material of the structure to the feature.

Abstract: A solid state structure having a surface is provided and exposed to a flux, F, of incident ions under conditions that are selected based on: ∂ ∂ t ⁢ C ⁡ ( r , t ) = F ⁢   ⁢ Y 1 + D ⁢ ∇ 2 ⁢ C - C τ trap - F ⁢   ⁢ C ⁢   ⁢ &sigm

Abstract: A solid state structure having a surface is provided and is exposed to a flux, F, of incident ions.

Abstract: There is provided controlled fabrication of a solid state structural feature on a solid state structure by exposing the structure to a fabrication process environment the conditions of which are selected to produce a prespecified feature in the structure. A physical detection species is directed toward a designated structure location during process environment exposure of the structure, and the detection species is detected in a trajectory from traversal of the designated structure location, to indicate changing physical dimensions of the prespecified feature. The fabrication process environment is then controlled in response to the physical species detection to fabricate the structural feature.