Detecting life in Ocean Worlds with low-capacitance solid-state nanopores

The goals of this proposal to develop a robust solid-state nanopore platform are directly aligned with the SeqLOW COLDTech development goals for the Development of Nanopore Sequencing for Automated Ocean World Life Detection led by Program Officer Dr. Christopher McKay at the NASA Ames Research Center. The specific goals include the robust fabrication of solid-state nanopore membranes and nanopore arrays with different pore diameters tailored for detection of multiple types of biomarkers depending on their sizes and expected properties (i.e. DNA, charged proteins, amino acids, etc.). Further development of this platform needs to include the integration of nanopore chips with microfluidics and also, on chip electronics, suitable to produce a compact, integrated and self-contained platform that is small, portable and sufficiently robust to be suitable for long duration space missions. As described below, protein pore-based DNA sequencers, now in the process of beta-testing by Oxford Nanopores (the Minion), are not robust enough for space exploration applications, and there is a need to replicate successes of protein pores in solid-state membranes such as silicon, graphene, metal dichalcogenides or other promising materials that can be fabricated in the form of thin membranes. The need for accuracy for this NASA application to detect and prove the potential existence of extant life, although synergistic, may be somewhat different than the DNA sequencing requirements that has been the focus of the Minion. Specifically, here we seek to potentially detect and distinguish between a range of small biomolecules, including aminoacids, lipids, and other. This requires a range of robust nanopores of controlled diameters and properties, optimally sensitive to different analytes.

This project is directly aligned with the SeqLOW COLDTech development goals for the Development of Nanopore Sequencing for Automated Ocean World Life Detection led by Program Officer Dr. Christopher McKay at the NASA Ames Research Center.

The proposed nanopore technology developed as part of this NASA SBIR project can also be applied by the Environmental Protection Agency in their projects related to measuring the quality of water. For example, the 2017 SBIR solicitation by the EPA included two focus areas involving water testing. The US Department of Agriculture also regularly has a need for novel water analysis instruments. For example, the 2017 USDA SBIR solicitation had three focus areas related to water analysis.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 4) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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