Digital Data Storage Using DNA Nanostructures and Solid-State Nanopores

TLDR

Solid‑state nanopores translate molecular shape into electrical signals, enabling high‑resolution structural readout. The authors aim to develop a high‑resolution integrated nanopore system that can identify DNA nanostructures and encode a vast library of data‑storage molecules. The system uses solid‑state nanopores to distinguish DNA hairpins differing by only 8 base pairs along a DNA carrier and encodes data in carriers capable of supporting up to 5×10³³ distinct molecules. The platform reads 112 hairpins spaced 114 base pairs apart on a DNA carrier, demonstrating a nanopore‑based data storage method with convenient access and potential miniature‑scale integration.

Abstract

Solid-state nanopores are powerful tools for reading the three-dimensional shape of molecules, allowing for the translation of molecular structure information into electric signals. Here, we show a high-resolution integrated nanopore system for identifying DNA nanostructures that has the capability of distinguishing attached short DNA hairpins with only a stem length difference of 8 bp along a DNA double strand named the DNA carrier. Using our platform, we can read up to 112 DNA hairpins with a separating distance of 114 bp attached on a DNA carrier that carries digital information. Our encoding strategy allows for the creation of a library of molecules with a size of up to 5 × 1033 (2112) that is only built from a few hundred types of base molecules for data storage and has the potential to be extended by linking multiple DNA carriers. Our platform provides a nanopore- and DNA nanostructure-based data storage method with convenient access and the potential for miniature-scale integration.