Control of molecular translocation through nanoscale apertures is of great interest for DNA sequencing, biomolecular filters, and new platforms for single molecule analysis. However, methods for controlling the permeability of nanopores are very limited. Here, we show how nanopores functionalized with poly(ethylene glycol) brushes, which fully prevent protein translocation, can be reversibly gated to an “open” state by binding of single IgG antibodies that disrupt the macromolecular barrier. On the basis of surface plasmon resonance data we propose a two-state model describing the antibody–polymer interaction kinetics. Reversibly (weakly) bound antibodies decrease the protein exclusion height while irreversibly (strongly) bound antibodies do not. Our results are further supported by fluorescence readout from pore arrays and high-speed atomic force microscopy on single pores. This type of dynamic barrier control on the nanoscale provides new possibilities for biomolecular separation and analysis.

中文翻译：

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通过单分子识别在固态纳米孔中选通蛋白运输。

对于DNA测序，生物分子过滤器和单分子分析的新平台，通过纳米级孔口控制分子移位非常重要。但是，控制纳米孔的渗透性的方法非常有限。在这里，我们展示了如何通过完全破坏蛋白质转运的聚乙二醇刷功能化的纳米孔，可以通过结合破坏大分子屏障的单个IgG抗体可逆地门控为“开放”状态。基于表面等离振子共振数据，我们提出了描述抗体-聚合物相互作用动力学的两态模型。可逆（弱）结合的抗体会降低蛋白质的排斥高度，而不可逆（强）结合的抗体不会。孔阵列的荧光读数和单个孔上的高速原子力显微镜进一步支持了我们的结果。这种在纳米级的动态屏障控制为生物分子的分离和分析提供了新的可能性。