Nanopore-Based System for Trapping, Controlled Displacement, and Sequencing of (bio)Macromolecules

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, an apparatus comprising: a membrane having a first side and a second side, wherein the membrane has first and second pores disposed therein, a processing system; and a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations comprising: setting a first physical characteristic in a vicinity of the first pore to cause a first end of a molecule having the first end and a second end to be moved through the first pore; setting a second physical characteristic in a vicinity of the second pore to cause the second end of the molecule to be moved through the second pore; and adjusting the first physical characteristic to cause the molecule to be tightened, with a first given amount of force, between the first pore and the second pore. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method comprising:
 detecting by a processing system including a processor a first entry, into a first pore located in a membrane, of a first portion of a molecule, wherein the membrane has a first side and a second side, and wherein the first pore extends from the first side of the membrane to the second side of the membrane;   detecting by the processing system a second entry, into the first pore, of a second portion of a molecule; and   responsive to detecting the first entry into the first pore and the second entry into the first pore, facilitating by the processing system a first movement of the first portion of the molecule back out of the first pore and a second movement of the second portion of the molecule back out of the first pore.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the first portion and the second portion are portions of a single molecule. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the first portion is part of a first molecule and the second portion is part of a second, separate, molecule. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the first movement of the first portion of the molecule back out of the first pore and the second movement of the second portion of the molecule back out of the first pore results from adjusting a first physical characteristic in a vicinity of the first pore to cause the first portion of the molecule to be backed out of the first pore and the second portion of the molecule to be backed out of the first pore. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the first entry of the first portion into the first pore is from the first side of the membrane and wherein the second entry of the second portion into the first pore is from the first side of the membrane. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the molecule comprises DNA. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the membrane is substantially planar and wherein the first side of the membrane is substantially parallel to the second side of the membrane. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the membrane is a solid-state membrane that comprises SiN. 
     
     
         29 . An apparatus comprising:
 a membrane, wherein the membrane has a first side and a second side, and wherein a first pore extends from the first side of the membrane to the second side of the membrane;   a processing system including a processor; and   a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:
 detecting a first entry, into the first pore, of a first portion of a molecule; 
 detecting a second entry, into the first pore, of a second portion of a molecule; and 
 responsive to detecting the first entry into the first pore and the second entry into the first pore, facilitating a first movement of the first portion of the molecule back out of the first pore and a second movement of the second portion of the molecule back out of the first pore. 
   
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the first portion and the second portion are portions of a single molecule. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the first portion is part of a first molecule and the second portion is part of a second, separate, molecule. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the first movement of the first portion of the molecule back out of the first pore and the second movement of the second portion of the molecule back out of the first pore results from adjusting a first physical characteristic in a vicinity of the first pore to cause the first portion of the molecule to be backed out of the first pore and the second portion of the molecule to be backed out of the first pore. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the first entry of the first portion into the first pore is from the first side of the membrane and wherein the second entry of the second portion into the first pore is from the first side of the membrane. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the molecule comprises DNA. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the membrane is substantially planar and wherein the first side of the membrane is substantially parallel to the second side of the membrane. 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the membrane is a solid-state membrane that comprises SiN. 
     
     
         37 . A computer-readable storage device comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system including a processor, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:
 detecting a first entry, into a first pore located in a membrane, of a first portion of a molecule, wherein the membrane has a first side and a second side, and wherein the first pore extends from the first side of the membrane to the second side of the membrane;   detecting a second entry, into the first pore, of a second portion of a molecule; and   responsive to detecting the first entry into the first pore and the second entry into the first pore, facilitating a first movement of the first portion of the molecule back out of the first pore and a second movement of the second portion of the molecule back out of the first pore.   
     
     
         38 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 37 , wherein the first portion and the second portion are portions of a single molecule. 
     
     
         39 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 37 , wherein the first portion is part of a first molecule and the second portion is part of a second, separate, molecule. 
     
     
         40 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 37 , wherein the first movement of the first portion of the molecule back out of the first pore and the second movement of the second portion of the molecule back out of the first pore results from adjusting a first physical characteristic in a vicinity of the first pore to cause the first portion of the molecule to be backed out of the first pore and the second portion of the molecule to be backed out of the first pore.