Method of combing a nucleic acid
View Patent ↗Elongated molecules are stretched across a substrate by controlled fluid flow.
1. A method of forming a nanowire, comprising:
applying a nucleic acid-containing solution to a first substrate, the first substrate having a defined physical feature thereon;
controllably flowing the nucleic acid-containing solution over the first substrate in a manner that promotes stretching of a nucleic acid molecule from the defined physical feature along the first substrate; and
applying a conductive material to the stretched nucleic acid molecule to form a nanowire,
wherein the defined physical feature is local to the stretched nucleic acid molecule.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nucleic acid includes DNA.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nucleic acid includes RNA.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nucleic acid includes a synthetic nucleic acid.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nucleic acid molecule includes a molecule selected from the group consisting of chromosomes, viruses, plasmids, oligonucleotides, double-stranded nucleic acids, and single-stranded nucleic acids.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nucleic acid is bound to a nanotube.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the defined physical feature is a depression.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the defined physical feature is a protrusion.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first substrate has a plurality of defined physical features, and wherein the controlled fluid flow promotes stretching of multiple nucleic acid molecules from at least a subset of the plurality of defined physical features along the first substrate.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of defined physical features are arranged in a repeating array.
11. A method of forming a nanowire, comprising:
applying a nucleic acid-containing solution to a first substrate, the first substrate having a defined physical feature thereon;
controllably flowing the nucleic acid-containing solution over the first substrate in a manner that promotes stretching of a nucleic acid molecule from the defined physical feature along the first substrate;
applying a conductive material to the stretched nucleic acid molecule to form a nanowire; and
transferring the stretched nucleic acid molecule to a second substrate,
wherein the defined physical feature is local to the stretched nucleic acid molecule.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the stretched nucleic acid molecule is transferred before applying the conductive material.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the stretched nucleic acid molecule is transferred after applying the conductive material.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein transferring the stretched nucleic acid molecule comprises bringing the first substrate into contact with the second substrate.
15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising controlling a surface charge of the second substrate, wherein the surface charge acts to attract the nucleic acid molecule to the second substrate.
16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising controlling a surface charge of the first substrate, wherein the surface charge acts to attract the nucleic acid molecule to the first substrate.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein controlling a surface charge of the second substrate includes inducing a spatiotemporally patterned surface charge on the second substrate.
18. The method of claim 11 , further comprising controlling a surface charge of the first substrate, wherein the surface charge acts to repel the nucleic acid molecule from the first substrate.
19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising controlling a surface charge of the second substrate, wherein the surface charge acts to attract the nucleic acid molecule to the second substrate.
20. The method of claim 18 , further comprising controlling a surface charge of the second substrate, wherein the surface charge acts to repel the nucleic acid molecule from the second substrate.
21. The method of claim 18 , wherein controlling a surface charge of the first substrate includes inducing a spatiotemporally patterned surface charge on the first substrate.
22. The method of claim 11 , wherein transferring the stretched nucleic acid molecule comprises controlling surface energy of at least one of the first and second substrates.
23. The method of claim 11 , wherein transferring the stretched nucleic acid molecule comprises controlling temperature of at least one of the first and second substrates.
24. The method of claim 11 , wherein transferring the stretched nucleic acid molecule comprises controlling hydrophilicity of at least one of the first and second substrates.
25. The method of claim 11 , wherein the second substrate comprises an electronic device, and wherein the transferred nucleic acid molecule is in electrical communication with the electronic device.
26. The method of claim 11 , further comprising attaching an electronic device to the transferred nucleic acid molecule.
27. The method of claim 1 , wherein the conductive material includes a metal.
28. The method of claim 1 , wherein the conductive material includes a semiconductor.
29. The method of claim 1 , wherein the conductive material includes a compound.
30. The method of claim 1 , wherein the conductive material includes a polymer.
31. The method of claim 1 , wherein the conductive material is substantially contiguous.
32. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first substrate comprises surface features that spatially direct the fluid flow.
33. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first substrate comprises a plurality of micro-orifices, and wherein controllably flowing further comprises flowing a fluid through at least a subset of the micro-orifices.
34. The method of claim 33 , wherein the fluid that flows through the at least a subset of the micro-orifices is the nucleic acid-containing solution.
35. The method of claim 33 , wherein the fluid that flows through the at least a subset of the micro-orifices is a gas.
36. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first substrate comprises a plurality of switchable channels, and wherein controllably flowing further comprises switching at least a subset of the switchable channels.
37. A method of applying a nucleic acid to a surface, comprising:
applying a nucleic acid-containing solution to a first substrate, the first substrate having a defined physical feature thereon, the defined physical feature comprising a nucleic acid anchor; and
controllably flowing a deposition fluid over the first substrate in a manner that promotes stretching of a nucleic acid molecule from the defined physical feature along the first substrate,
wherein the defined physical feature is local to the stretched nucleic acid molecule.
38. The method of claim 37 , wherein the deposition fluid is the nucleic-acid containing solution.
39. The method of claim 37 , wherein the nucleic acid anchor comprises an anchor strand of nucleic acid attached to the first substrate.
40. The method of claim 37 , wherein the nucleic acid-containing solution comprises a nucleic acid molecule bound to a mechanical anchor, and wherein the nucleic acid anchor comprises a trap for the mechanical anchor.
41. The method of claim 40 , wherein the mechanical anchor is a bead.
42. The method of claim 40 , wherein the trap physically traps the mechanical anchor.
43. The method of claim 40 , wherein the trap adheres to the mechanical anchor.
44. The method of claim 40 , wherein the trap electrically traps the mechanical anchor.
45. The method of claim 40 , wherein the trap magnetically traps the mechanical anchor.
46. The method of claim 37 , wherein the defined physical feature is a depression.
47. The method of claim 37 , wherein the defined physical feature is a protrusion.
48. The method of claim 37 , wherein the first substrate has a plurality of defined physical features, and wherein the controlled fluid flow promotes stretching of multiple nucleic acid molecules from at least a subset of the plurality of defined physical features along the first substrate.
49. The method of claim 48 , wherein the plurality of defined physical features are arranged in a repeating array.
50. A method of applying a nucleic acid to a surface, comprising:
applying a nucleic acid-containing solution to a first substrate, the first substrate having a defined physical feature thereon, the defined physical feature comprising a nucleic acid anchor;
controllably flowing a deposition fluid over the first substrate in a manner that promotes stretching of a nucleic acid molecule from the defined physical feature along the first substrate; and
transferring the stretched nucleic acid molecule to a second substrate,
wherein the defined physical feature is local to the stretched nucleic acid molecule.