Nanopore with Transverse Nanoelectrodes for Electrical Characterization and Sequencing of DNA

Nanopore DNA sequencing devices show promise for rapidly decoding genetic information, although single nucleotide detection appears to be beyond the sensitivity of present transmembrane current measurement schemes. In this paper, a nanodevice combining nanoelectrodes with a nanopore was made to measure the nucleotide dependent transverse tunneling currents during the translocation of DNA through the nanopore. A custom high speed, low noise, integrated circuit current amplifier was designed and fabricated to measure the tunneling current. This nanodevice was characterized electrically using 2 nm to 20 nm gold nanoparticles as an artificial construct for DNA using both DC and AC detection schemes. Measured transverse tunneling currents were found to be quantized, probably according to the number of nanoparticles residing within the pore.