The invention relates to a new method of delivering an analyte to a transmembrane pore in a membrane. The method involves the use of microparticles.

The invention relates to a new method of delivering an analyte to a transmembrane pore in a membrane. The method involves the use of microparticles.

A membrane-spanning nanopore is provided that comprises: i. at least one scaffold polynucleotide strand; ii. a plurality of staple polynucleotide strands; and iii. at least one hydrophobically-modified polynucleotide strand, wherein the at least one hydrophobically-modified polynucleotide strand comprises a polynucleotide strand and a hydrophobic moiety; wherein each of the plurality of staple polynucleotide strands hybridises to the at least one scaffold polynucleotide strand to form the three-dimensional structure of the membrane-spanning nanopore, and wherein the at least one hydrophobically-modified polynucleotide strand hybridises to a portion of the at least one scaffold polynucleotide strand, the membrane-spanning nanopore defining a central channel with a minimum internal width of at least about 5 nm. Membranes comprising the membrane-spanning nanopore and applications of those membranes are also provided.

A membrane-spanning nanopore is provided that comprises: i. at least one scaffold polynucleotide strand; ii. a plurality of staple polynucleotide strands; and iii. at least one hydrophobically-modified polynucleotide strand, wherein the at least one hydrophobically-modified polynucleotide strand comprises a polynucleotide strand and a hydrophobic moiety; wherein each of the plurality of staple polynucleotide strands hybridises to the at least one scaffold polynucleotide strand to form the three-dimensional structure of the membrane-spanning nanopore, and wherein the at least one hydrophobically-modified polynucleotide strand hybridises to a portion of the at least one scaffold polynucleotide strand, the membrane-spanning nanopore defining a central channel with a minimum internal width of at least about 5 nm. Membranes comprising the membrane-spanning nanopore and applications of those membranes are also provided.

The invention relates to a system (10) for the amplification of a nucleic acid (22), comprising at least one local heating element (12), which is functionalized with at least one connection nucleic acid (14), and at least one primer nucleic acid (16), which is adapted to bind to the at least one connection nucleic acid (14) and to bind to the nucleic acid (22), and/or at least one primer complementary nucleic acid (30), which is adapted to bind to the at least one connection nucleic acid (14) and to elongate the connection nucleic acid (14) by a primer nucleotide sequence by means of an enzymatic reaction. Furthermore, the invention relates to a primer nucleic acid (16), a primer complementary nucleic acid (30), a local heating element (12) and a method for the amplification of a nucleic acid (22).

The invention relates to a system (10) for the amplification of a nucleic acid (22), comprising at least one local heating element (12), which is functionalized with at least one connection nucleic acid (14), and at least one primer nucleic acid (16), which is adapted to bind to the at least one connection nucleic acid (14) and to bind to the nucleic acid (22), and/or at least one primer complementary nucleic acid (30), which is adapted to bind to the at least one connection nucleic acid (14) and to elongate the connection nucleic acid (14) by a primer nucleotide sequence by means of an enzymatic reaction. Furthermore, the invention relates to a primer nucleic acid (16), a primer complementary nucleic acid (30), a local heating element (12) and a method for the amplification of a nucleic acid (22).

A method of determining one or more target nucleic acids in cells includes the steps of: delivering one or more probes into the cells, each of the one or more probes being capable of binding with corresponding target nucleic acid present in the cells to form a double-stranded sequence; inserting an array of functionalized nanoneedles into the cells to bind with the double-stranded sequence; and hybridizing the bound double-stranded sequence with a first and second DNA sequence to produce a hybridized product, the first and second DNA sequence being at least partially complementary to each other. A kit for determining a target nucleic acid in cells includes a first reagent comprising a probe for binding with the target nucleic acid to form a double-stranded sequence; and an array of functionalized nanoneedles comprising a protein for binding with the double-stranded sequence.

A method of determining one or more target nucleic acids in cells includes the steps of: delivering one or more probes into the cells, each of the one or more probes being capable of binding with corresponding target nucleic acid present in the cells to form a double-stranded sequence; inserting an array of functionalized nanoneedles into the cells to bind with the double-stranded sequence; and hybridizing the bound double-stranded sequence with a first and second DNA sequence to produce a hybridized product, the first and second DNA sequence being at least partially complementary to each other. A kit for determining a target nucleic acid in cells includes a first reagent comprising a probe for binding with the target nucleic acid to form a double-stranded sequence; and an array of functionalized nanoneedles comprising a protein for binding with the double-stranded sequence.

A membrane-spanning nanopore is provided that comprises: i. at least one scaffold polynucleotide strand; ii. a plurality of staple polynucleotide strands; and iii. at least one hydrophobically-modified polynucleotide strand, wherein the at least one hydrophobically-modified polynucleotide strand comprises a polynucleotide strand and a hydrophobic moiety; wherein each of the plurality of staple polynucleotide strands hybridises to the at least one scaffold polynucleotide strand to form the three-dimensional structure of the membrane-spanning nanopore, and wherein the at least one hydrophobically-modified polynucleotide strand hybridises to a portion of the at least one scaffold polynucleotide strand, the membrane-spanning nanopore defining a central channel with a minimum internal width of at least about 5 nm.

A membrane-spanning nanopore is provided that comprises: i. at least one scaffold polynucleotide strand; ii. a plurality of staple polynucleotide strands; and iii. at least one hydrophobically-modified polynucleotide strand, wherein the at least one hydrophobically-modified polynucleotide strand comprises a polynucleotide strand and a hydrophobic moiety; wherein each of the plurality of staple polynucleotide strands hybridises to the at least one scaffold polynucleotide strand to form the three-dimensional structure of the membrane-spanning nanopore, and wherein the at least one hydrophobically-modified polynucleotide strand hybridises to a portion of the at least one scaffold polynucleotide strand, the membrane-spanning nanopore defining a central channel with a minimum internal width of at least about 5 nm.