DNA capture into a nanopore: Interplay of diffusion and electrohydrodynamics

Alexander Y. Grosberg, Yitzhak Rabin

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    We present a detailed analysis of the process of voltage driven capture of DNA molecules by nanopores. We show that ionic current generates a nonuniform electric field that acts on both the DNA and on its counterions and that the response of DNA to the electric field is affected by its electroosmotic coupling to the mobile counterions. We calculate the voltage and molecular mass dependence of the radius of capture and of the capture rate in the diffusion limited regime. We argue that electroosmotic flow through the DNA coil is suppressed in the vicinity of the pore and present a tentative estimate of the capture rate in the barrier limited regime.

    Original languageEnglish (US)
    Article number165102
    JournalJournal of Chemical Physics
    Volume133
    Issue number16
    DOIs
    StatePublished - Oct 28 2010

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Physics and Astronomy(all)
    • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry

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