Oligomeric Molecular Machines for Single Molecule Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for miniaturizing devices to the nanoscale using top-down design become prohibitively expensive as they approach sizes around 10 nm, and existing nanoscale devices struggle to detect single molecules due to thermal fluctuations, which limit their sensitivity in applications like toxic chemical detection.

Innovation Solution

Development of oligomeric machines that exhibit dynamical bistability, spontaneous vibrations, and stochastic resonance, utilizing nonlinear bistable systems to amplify weak signals by modulating their conformational states with temperature and force, enabling sensitive molecular detection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of moving object

If top-down design is used to miniaturize devices to nanoscale, then device size is reduced, but manufacturing cost increases and becomes prohibitively expensive at around 10 nm

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice sizeVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the nanoscale device into modular components (oligomeric machines) that can be independently synthesized and assembled. Each oligomeric machine consists of repeating units that can be manufactured separately and then self-assemble into functional structures, avoiding the need for expensive top-down fabrication at the 10 nm scale.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The oligomeric machines exhibit self-assembly and self-organization properties, automatically forming their functional structures through spontaneous conformational changes and molecular recognition. This self-service capability eliminates the need for expensive external manipulation and precise positioning that would be required by top-down manufacturing approaches.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If traditional nanoscale detection methods are used, then device structure is simple, but detection sensitivity is limited due to thermal fluctuations preventing single molecule detection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection sensitivityVSAvoidthermal fluctuations

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful effect of thermal fluctuations into a beneficial signal amplification mechanism. The oligomeric machines are designed to exhibit stochastic resonance, where thermal noise drives transitions between conformational states that can be detected as amplified signals, enabling single molecule detection despite the presence of thermal fluctuations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The oligomeric machines exhibit spontaneous mechanical vibrations and conformational oscillations that can be detected at the single molecule level. These vibrations arise from the bistable conformational dynamics of the oligomeric structures and provide a detectable signal that overcomes the masking effect of thermal fluctuations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #18Mechanical vibration

Data Source

PatentUS20230024235A1Systems and methods for oligomeric molecular machines

Publication Date: 2023.01.26 MOLECULAR MACHINES CORPORATION LTD

AI summary

Disclosed herein are oligomeric machines comprising a first oligomeric module having a first end and a second end, and a second oligomeric module having a first end and a second end; wherein the first end of the first oligomeric module is joined to the first end of the second oligomeric module; and wherein the oligomeric machine exhibits stochastic resonance and/or spontaneous vibrations in a solution at a temperature when the temperature is in a critical temperature range and the oligomeric machine does not exhibit stochastic resonance in the solution when the temperature is not in the critical temperature range; and the oligomeric machine exhibits stochastic resonance and/or spontaneous vibrations in a solution under a force load applied to the oligomeric machine when the force load is in a critical force range and the oligomeric machine does not exhibit stochastic resonance and/or spontaneous vibrations in the solution when the force load is not in the critical range. Also disclosed herein are molecular sensors comprising an oligomeric machine and configured to bind with one or more analytes thus modulating the stochastic resonance and/or spontaneous vibrations of the oligomeric machine. Additionally disclosed are uses of molecular sensors for the detection of one or more analytes in a solution.