Automated single molecule selection

Biological systems exhibit significant heterogeneity when studied at the single molecule level. While significant progress has been reported in the development of techniques to quantify individual molecules, preparative methods are needed to allow selected extraction of molecules for study by complementary methods. We present the development of a field programmable gate array (FPGA) system to automate the selection of individual molecules within a nanofluidic device based upon their fluorescence. Real-time signals processing is performed to identify molecules of interest and then to actuate changes in electrokinetic flow, toward collecting molecules for subsequent analysis.