Next-generation nanopore technologies for biomolecular analysis and diagnostics
Biological information is carried by molecules spanning an enormous range, from small metabolites and reactive species to large, complex biopolymers such as peptides and glycans. Across this range, structural diversity, chemical modification and dynamic behaviour make these molecules both biologically vital and difficult to analyse, and conventional methods often fall short of providing timely, molecule-level information. Nanopore sensing, a single-molecule technology, offers a unique route to read molecules one at a time. Nucleic acid sequencing has shown what is possible; the next frontier is extending nanopore analysis across the full range of biomolecules, from finger-printing small-molecule mixtures to sequencing modifications of biopolymers. Building on our expertise in nanopore sensing and chemical biology, this project will develop nanopore systems that capture previously inaccessible information at the level of individual molecules. The aim is to advance real-time, accessible molecular diagnostics with novel chemical and biological tools, integrating sample preparation, single-molecule sensing and quantitative analysis into deployable systems, with the potential to reshape both clinical and personal disease and health monitoring.
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