Patent ID: 9658184
Date: 2017-05-23
CPC Classifications: B82Y,C12Q,G01N

Claim:
1. A method of analyzing a polymer, the method comprising the steps of: providing a testing structure having a first fluid reservoir and a second fluid reservoir interconnected by at least one nanochannel, an electrolyte solution within the first fluid reservoir, the second fluid reservoir and the nanochannel, and an arrangement of nanostructures within the first fluid reservoir, wherein the first fluid reservoir has a square shape with four sides and wherein the at least one nanochannel connects with the first fluid reservoir along one of the sides, wherein the nanostructures are arranged so as to form multiple concentric circles inside the first fluid reservoir with each of the concentric circles being centered at an entry point of the nanochannel; placing the polymer within the first fluid reservoir; applying a voltage to the first fluid reservoir and the second fluid reservoir to create an electrical force to move the polymer through the arrangement of nanostructures which directs the polymer into the nanochannel by way of the concentric circles being centered at the entry point of the nanochannel; and monitoring ionic current changes in the electrolyte solution as the polymer passes through the nanochannel to obtain ionic current data for one or more constituent components of the polymer.