The Nanopore-FET as a High-Throughput Barcode Molecule Reader for Single-Molecule Omics and Read-out of DNA Digital Data Storage

Nanopore technology has augmented DNA sequencing, and nascent nanopore-based technology breakthroughs may lead to major steps forward in large-scale molecular analysis (omics) and DNA digital data storage. A major weakness of current nanopore technologies is the requisite recording of pico- to nanoampere ionic currents. Such low currents limit recording bandwidth in large integrated arrays and impose a limit on how quickly a detectable molecule can cross, or translocate the pore. The Nanopore Field Effect Transistor (NPFET) is a nanopore surrounded by a nanoscale field-effect transistor. The field-effect transistor senses single molecules translocating through the pore relying on much larger microampere currents. The NPFET potentially offers higher bandwidths in large integrated arrays and the breaking of the nanopore translocation speed limit. Moreover, because individual electrolyte contacts are not required for NPFETs they are more easily integrated into large arrays than nanopores. NPFETs may lead to major strides in high throughput reading of molecularly encoded information. We will introduce and elaborate on nanopore FET technology research for omics and DNA data storage and we will propose a scaling roadmap that aims to incrementally boost NPFET molecular read throughput.