Molecular Scrivener For Reading Or Writing Data To A Macromolecule

Abstract

A molecular scrivener reads data from or writes data to a macromolecule and includes: a pair of shielding electrodes; a scrivener electrode between the first and second shielding electrodes and that electrically floats at a third potential that, in an absence of a charged or dipolar moiety of the macromolecule, is intermediate between the first and second potentials and changes in a presence of the charged or dipolar moiety; a dielectric layer interposed between shielding electrodes and the scrivener electrode; and a nanopore that communicates the macromolecule through the electrodes and dielectric layers. Reading data from or writing data to a macromolecule includes: sequentially receiving, at the scrivener electrode, individual moieties of the macromolecule so that the third potential responds to individual moieties; communicating the macromolecule from the scrivener electrode to the second shielding electrode and from second shielding electrode to expel the macromolecule from the nanopore.