2D Nano Hybrid Systems: interfacing biomolecular motors with nanopores in 2D materials

Interfacing the solid-state electronics with biological systems has been a long-standing challenge in nanobiotechnology.

Creating nanobio hybrids would enable harnessing the remarkable capabilities offered by solid-state materials and biological molecules, such as proteins, enzymes, DNA etc., at the same time.

Two-dimensional (2D) materials are among the most prospective building blocks for future-generation electronic and biosensing devices due to their exceptional optoelectronic and mechanical properties combined with their atomic thickness.

Their ultimate thinness has been considered as a remarkable advantage for nanopore-based sensing, and they have been widely investigated as 2D solid-state nanopore platforms for single-molecule sensing.

The goal of this proposal is to push further the development of 2D nanopores by developing new protocols for creating interfaces between 2D materials and biomolecular motors.

Attaching the enzyme motor, such as DNA helicase, to a nanopore made in 2D material would introduce an active control in nanofluidic transport of single-molecules and ions.

Such hybrid platforms presents a step forward in uniting biological inspiration and nanoscale engineering, offering unprecedented levels of control, precision, and versatility at the nanoscale.

The future direction holds promise across a wide spectrum of applications, from fundamental scientific research to transformative technologies that could impact fields as diverse as nanobiotechnology, personalized medicine and diagnostics, environmental sensing, nanorobotics, and many more.