Optical sequencing of digital polymers

Preview

Elaboration of  an innovative optical platform for the encoding and sequencing of synthetic and natural polymers.

Arnaud FAVIER, CNRS

Fabien MONTEL, CNRS

Jérôme WENGER, CNRS

Molecular data storage relies on the ability to write and read digital information encoded onto macromolecules. Considering writing, beyond natural macromolecules like DNA, synthetic digital polymers offer interesting perspectives, notably thanks to a larger versatility and coding capacity. Considering reading, the main sequencing methods of macromolecules are based on mass spectrometry or analyses by nanopores coupled with an electrical detection, that have limitations despite their high sensitivity.

Our transdisciplinary consortium explores a new approach based on the optical encoding and sequencing of synthetic and natural polymers. The project aims at developing fluorescently-encoded polymers and DNA origamis, in combination with an original optical detection technique enabling a fast reading of their controlled sequence.

Keywords : Fluorescently-encoded polymers, Optical sequencing, Nanopores, Plasmonic detection, Microscopy, Signal processing

Missions

Our Researches

Optically encode digital polymers

Develop a modular approach to control the synthesis of fluorescent digital polymers and adapted to high throughput techniques

Create an original method of optical sequencing

Optimize reading in real-time, at the single molecule level, using nanopores and thanks to a photonic detection. The control of the optical near-field at the nanopore exit allows information reading by imaging.

Increase the density and speed of reading

Improve the coding capacity by exploiting different fluorophore properties as well as the reading rate by implementing new approaches for data acquisition and processing.