Single-Molecule Nanotechnologies: An Evolution in Biological Dynamics Detection

Abstract

Single-molecule detection is a rapidly developing area within the analytical chemistry field that requires ultrasensitive technologies to detect a range of molecules. Over the past few decades, various optically-, mechanically-, and electrically-based strategies have been employed for single-molecule detection to uncover information in biological processes. These strategies enable real-time monitoring with single-molecule/single-event sensitivity. In addition, their high temporal resolution enables investigation of the underlying mechanisms of biological functions from static to dynamic, from qualitative to quantitative, and from one to multiple disciplines. In this review, we provide a brief overview of the prominent, real-time single-molecule detection nanotechnologies and their potential applications within the life science fields.

Nanomechanics of self-assembled DNA building blocks

“…This number corresponds to a fraction of about 8.7% single stranded bases at room temperature and is in good agreement with simulations of DNA hybridization and for experiments on melting DNA duplexes. [37][38][39][40] The effect of single-stranded gaps on the flexibility of DNA molecules was observed before in gel migration experiments and with electron microscopy. 7,41 Thermally activated duplex opening along the double stranded sections starting at mismatching base pairs or buldge loops can occurs also for a dsDNA construct without nicks and do not contribute to the reduction of persistence length observed in our study.…”

Recent progress in single-molecule transistors: their designs, mechanisms and applications

“…Single-molecule FETs also have many applications in bioelectronics, which can be obtained from recently published review papers. 83,84 The following section will focus on the applications related to physical mechanisms. The following will introduce the regulation of these effects in single-molecule FETs.…”

Biosafety materials: an emerging new research direction of materials science from the COVID-19 outbreak

“…Although the concept of ''biosafety material science'' has not been officially proposed to date, we can still find a number of studies related to the biosafety materials, including pathogen detection, [61][62][63] virus detection, [64][65][66][67][68] prevention and control of infectious diseases, [69][70][71] PPE, [72][73][74][75] preservation of biological and human resources, [76][77][78][79] biological invasion monitoring, [80][81][82] biological weapons and biological terrorist defense. [83][84][85][86][87] Herein, the state-of-the-art biosafety materials are discussed in depth, which provides a comprehensive understanding for researchers in the related field and can help propel this concept in the newly emerging field.…”