Nanofluidic technology for biomolecule applications: a critical review

Abstract

In this review, we present nanofluidic phenomena, particularly as they relate to applications involving analysis of biomolecules within nanofabricated devices. The relevant length scales and physical phenomena that govern biomolecule transport and manipulation within nanofabricated nanofluidic devices are reviewed, the advantages of nanofabricated devices are presented, and relevant applications are cited. Characteristic length scales include the Debye length, the Van der Waals radius, the action distance of hydrogen bonding, the slip length, and macromolecular dimensions. On the basis of the characteristic lengths and related nanofluidic phenomena, a nanofluidic toolbox will be assembled. Nanofluidic phenomena that affect biomolecule behavior within such devices can include ion depletion and enrichment, modified velocity and mobility, permselectivity, steric hindrance, entropy, adsorption, and hydrodynamic interaction. The complex interactions and coupled physics of such phenomena allow for many applications, including biomolecule separation, concentration, reaction/hybridization, sequencing (in the case of DNA) and detection. Examples of devices for such applications will be presented, followed by a discussion of near-term challenges and future thoughts for the field.

Generation of phospholipid vesicle-nanotube networks and transport of molecules therein

“…As NVNs are, in essence, combinations of nanofluidic devices 45 and microreactors 46 , solid-state microfluidic and nanofluidic devices accommodate some of their functions and properties [47][48][49] . Cell blebbing 50 is an alternative method by which to obtain unilamellar .…”

Hydronium-dominated ion transport in carbon-dioxide-saturated electrolytes at low salt concentrations in nanochannels

“…Of particular interest is the intricate interplay among surface chemistry, electrokinetics, and fluid dynamics spanning over molecular and continuum macroscopic length scales [4,5]. It has been demonstrated that the electrokinetic properties at this scale have enabled a range of innovations including those for chemical sensing and bioanalytics [6][7][8][9][10][11][12], energy harvesting systems, [13][14][15][16][17][18], and nanofluidic ion transport [19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26], including enrichment, depletion, and rectification effects [27][28][29][30][31][32].…”

Cylindrical glass nanocapillaries patterned via coarse lithography (>1 μm) for biomicrofluidic applications

“…1,2 New effects have been revealed in nanoscale fluidic channels such as physical confinement of macromolecules (e.g., nucleic acids) 3,4 and unique ionic transport mechanisms, [5][6][7] which fuel numerous innovative studies. In particular, the static and dynamic properties of single DNA molecule confined in nanochannels ranging from tens to hundreds of nanometers have been well characterized, 8 and applications including DNA stretching 9,10 and DNA entropic trapping 11 have been reported.…”