Supramolecular Interactions Modulate RNA:DNA Folding Observed via Nanopore Sensing.
Discover how urea, a simple molecule, can stiffen RNA-DNA hybrids, boosting nanopore sensing to detect rare RNA biomarkers with unprecedented precision.
This study explores how non-covalent interactions with urea can modulate the material properties of RNA-DNA hybrid nanostructures. Using solid-state nanopore measurements and atomic force microscopy, the researchers found that urea rigidifies these hybrid polymers, leading to a 50% reduction in folded translocations during nanopore sensing. This improvement in the proportion of usable data points paves the way for the robust detection of low-abundance RNA analytes at the single-molecule level, with potential applications in bioengineering, supramolecular chemistry, and advanced sensing technologies.