Single Molecule Processes
| James Yates, Collaborator |
Research Interests
As a group, our interests lie in the study and development of both biological and solid-state nanopores. We use alpha-hemolysin as a nanotool for investigating the binding and properties of various small molecules or nanoparticles (analytes). Such studies allow us to assess the degree of purity or the heterogeneity of a given analyte.
We hope to transfer insight, gained from these studies, to the development of solid-state nanopores for applications in detection. Solid-state nanopores can be manufactured in ultrathin membranes of silicon nitride or silicon oxide or in polymers such as polycarbonate or PET.
We strive to develop solid-state nanopores for applications in defence, civil security, airport security, food safety, monitoring the quality of drinking water, drug detection, drug testing and medical diagnostics.
Selected Publications
- Astier Y, Uzun O, Stellacci F. Electrophysiological study of single gold nanoparticle/alpha-Hemolysin complex formation: a nanotool to slow down ssDNA through the alpha-Hemolysin nanopore. Small (2009) 5(11):1273-8.
- Astier Y, Datas L, Carney R, Stellacci F, Gentile F, DiFabrizio E. Artificial surface-modified Si₃N₄ nanopores for single surface-modified gold nanoparticle scanning. Small (2011) 7(4):455-9.
- Campos E, Asandei A, McVey CE, Dias JC, Oliveira AS, Soares CM, Luchian T, Astier Y. The role of Lys147 in the interaction between MPSA-gold nanoparticles and the α-hemolysin nanopore. Langmuir (2012) 28(44):15643-50
- Carney RP, Astier Y, Carney TM, Voïtchovsky K, Jacob Silva PH, Stellacci F.
Electrical method to quantify nanoparticle interaction with lipid bilayers. ACS Nano (2013) 7(2):932-42.
