A method for characterising polynucleotides, comprising: (a) providing a system comprising: an array of independently addressable elements, each independently addressable element of the array comprising cis and trans chambers connected by an electrical communication means, wherein said cis and trans chambers are separated by a thin film, and wherein: the thin film of each independently addressable element comprises a single nanopore therein, an enzyme is present on the cis side of the nanopore of each independently addressable element, the independently addressable elements of the array share a common cis chamber, and each independently addressable element has a trans chamber separate from the trans chambers of other independently addressable elements of the array; a voltage source connected to electrodes, wherein the voltage source and electrodes are configured to apply an electric field between the cis and the trans chambers; and a digital logic circuit associated with the nanopores of the independently addressable elements of the array of independently addressable elements; (b) providing polynucleotides to the common cis chamber; (c) applying an electric field between the cis and the trans chambers and thereby directing the polynucleotides to the nanopores of the independently addressable elements, wherein said enzyme binds a polynucleotide of the polynucleotides; and (d) characterising the polynucleotides based on monitoring the ionic current through the nanopores of the independently addressable elements. (a) providing a system comprising: an array of independently addressable elements, each independently addressable element of the array comprising cis and trans chambers connected by an electrical communication means, wherein said cis and trans chambers are separated by a thin film, and wherein: the thin film of each independently addressable element comprises a single nanopore therein, an enzyme is present on the cis side of the nanopore of each independently addressable element, the independently addressable elements of the array share a common cis chamber, and each independently addressable element has a trans chamber separate from the trans chambers of other independently addressable elements of the array; a voltage source connected to electrodes, wherein the voltage source and electrodes are configured to apply an electric field between the cis and the trans chambers; and a digital logic circuit associated with the nanopores of the independently addressable elements of the array of independently addressable elements; an array of independently addressable elements, each independently addressable element of the array comprising cis and trans chambers connected by an electrical communication means, wherein said cis and trans chambers are separated by a thin film, and wherein: the thin film of each independently addressable element comprises a single nanopore therein, an enzyme is present on the cis side of the nanopore of each independently addressable element, the independently addressable elements of the array share a common cis chamber, and each independently addressable element has a trans chamber separate from the trans chambers of other independently addressable elements of the array; the thin film of each independently addressable element comprises a single nanopore therein, an enzyme is present on the cis side of the nanopore of each independently addressable element, the independently addressable elements of the array share a common cis chamber, and each independently addressable element has a trans chamber separate from the trans chambers of other independently addressable elements of the array; a voltage source connected to electrodes, wherein the voltage source and electrodes are configured to apply an electric field between the cis and the trans chambers; and a digital logic circuit associated with the nanopores of the independently addressable elements of the array of independently addressable elements; (b) providing polynucleotides to the common cis chamber; (c) applying an electric field between the cis and the trans chambers and thereby directing the polynucleotides to the nanopores of the independently addressable elements, wherein said enzyme binds a polynucleotide of the polynucleotides; and (d) characterising the polynucleotides based on monitoring the ionic current through the nanopores of the independently addressable elements.