Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the identification a sequence of monomer building blocks of a biological or synthetic heteropolymer. The invention also relates to the use of a nanopore for identifying a sequence of monomer building blocks of a biological or synthetic heteropolymer. The invention further relates to a computer-implemented method, computer program code, and data processing system for identifying a sequence of monomer building blocks of a biological or synthetic heteropolymer.

Abstract: The invention is related to a microstructure apparatus for the measurement of biological membranes, comprising a support substrate having an upper side for supporting the membrane, at least one microcavity of the support substrate for receiving an electrolyte, wherein the microcavity is open upward and ends in a microaperture in the upper side of the support substrate, wherein the microaperture has a first characteristic diameter D1 and has at least one electrode, which is at least partially arranged within the microcavity and which has a contact side for contacting an electrolyte, the contact side being arranged adjacent to the inner volume of the microcavity, characterized in that the contact side of the electrode has a characteristic diameter D2, being larger than D1. The invention further relates to a corresponding method for producing the microstructure apparatus.

Abstract: The invention is related to a method and an apparatus for the automated fabrication of a molecular layer made from amphiphilic molecules, in particular lipids for a lipid bilayer membrane, in the apparatus, which has a support substrate for supporting the molecular layer, a rotation element, which can be rotated on top of the support substrate, and an actuator device, by means of which the rotation element can be automatically rotated, wherein the rotation element has an outer surface, which is formed hydrophobic at least in sections, the method having the following steps: placing a first solvent, which contains amphiphilic molecules, in a region above the support substrate; causing the automatic rotation of the rotation element above the support substrate; moving the first solvent between the support substrate and the rotation element by the interaction of the rotating rotation element with the first solvent, thus forming the molecular layer.

Abstract: The invention is related to a microstructure apparatus for the measurement of biological membranes, comprising a support substrate having an upper side for supporting the membrane, at least one microcavity of the support substrate for receiving an electrolyte, wherein the microcavity is open upward and ends in a microaperture in the upper side of the support substrate, wherein the microaperture has a first characteristic diameter D1 and has at least one electrode, which is at least partially arranged within the microcavity and which has a contact side for contacting an electrolyte, the contact side being arranged adjacent to the inner volume of the microcavity, characterized in that the contact side of the electrode has a characteristic diameter D2, being larger than D1. The invention further relates to a corresponding method for producing the microstructure apparatus.

Abstract: The invention is related to a method and an apparatus for the automated fabrication of a molecular layer made from amphiphilic molecules, in particular lipids for a lipid bilayer membrane, in the apparatus, which has a support substrate for supporting the molecular layer, a rotation element, which can be rotated on top of the support substrate, and an actuator device, by means of which the rotation element can be automatically rotated, wherein the rotation element has an outer surface, which is formed hydrophobic at least in sections, the method having the following steps: placing a first solvent, which contains amphiphilic molecules, in a region above the support substrate; causing the automatic rotation of the rotation element above the support substrate; moving the first solvent between the support substrate and the rotation element by the interaction of the rotating rotation element with the first solvent, thus forming the molecular layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing a lipid bilayer over a microcavity open on one side and to a microstructure for investigating lipid bilayers and an associated measuring arrangement. The method of producing a lipid bilayer over a microcavity open on one side comprises the following steps: filling the microcavity with an electrolyte solution; moving a fluid containing dissolved lipids in a first direction onto the microcavity; moving the fluid in a second direction away from the microcavity; monitoring the formation of the lipid bilayer over the microcavity by detecting an impedance between a counter-electrode connected to the fluid and a measuring electrode, which is arranged inside the microcavity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus having a nanodevice (1) for controlling the flow of charged particles in an electrolyte. Such apparatus comprises an electrolytic bath container (2) divided by a polymeric membrane foil (3) into a first (4) and a second compartment (5), wherein each compartment (4, 5) comprises an electrode (6, 7) connected to a voltage supply (8). Further the apparatus comprises at least one asymmetric pore (9) forming a via hole through said foil (3), wherein said pore (9) provides a narrow opening (10) of a diameter in the range of several nanometers down to about one nanometer on a front side (11) of said foil (3) and a wide opening (12) in the range of several ten nanometers up to several hundred nanometers on a back side (13) of said foil (3).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus having a nanodevice (1) for controlling the flow of charged particles in an electrolyte. Such apparatus comprises an electrolytic bath container (2) divided by a polymeric membrane foil (3) into a first (4) and a second compartment (5), wherein each compartment (4, 5) comprises an electrode (6, 7) connected to a voltage supply (8). Further the apparatus comprises at least one asymmetric pore (9) forming a via hole through said foil (3), wherein said pore (9) provides a narrow opening (10) of a diameter in the range of several nanometers down to about one nanometer on a front side (11) of said foil (3) and a wide opening (12) in the range of several ten nanometers up to several hundred nanometers on a back side (13) of said foil (3).

Abstract: The present invention relates to devices and methods for analyzing ion channels in membranes. The invention is characterized by a biochip comprising a substrate in which openings are provided in the form of an M×N matrix for receiving therein a cell membrane including at least one ion channel (I) or an artificial lipid membrane (Me), wherein M?1 and N?1.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus having a nanodevice for controlling the flow of charged particles in an electrolyte. Such apparatus comprises an electrolytic bath container divided by a polymeric foil into a first and a second compartment, wherein each compartment comprises an electrode connected to a voltage supply. Further the apparatus comprises at least one asymmetric pore forming a via hole through said foil, wherein said pore provides a narrow opening of a diameter in the range of several nanometers down to about one nanometer on a front side of said foil and a wide opening in the range of several ten nanometers up to several hundred nanometers on a back side of said foil.