Khurshed Akabirov

I am currently working in detection and identification of small biomolecules via resistive pulse sensing (RPS) analysis. RPS is a technique used to detect nanometer sized molecules that are electrokinetically (under electric field Ef) translocating through the solid state nanopores (SSN). Fabrication of SSN consists of milling the nanometer sized pores on the surface of Si master via focused ion beam (FIB) and transferring the pattern from the Si master to the low Tg, low cost and robust thermoplastics (PMMA, COP, COC, etc.). I am also investigating the surface effect of polymers on the analyte translocation and performing various analyses (ethanolamine (ETA) modification, salt concentration optimization, etc.)  to reduce the UV/O3 or O2 plasma generated surface charges providing better translocation of charged analytes. With that I was able to detect and identify all four nucleotides, including deoxyadenosine monophosphates (dAMPs), deoxyguanosine monophosphates (dGMPs), deoxycytidine monophosphates (dCMPs) and deoxythymidine monophosphates (dTMPs) based on their current amplitude, dwell time and time of flight (ToF). My main goal is to develop label free nano-sequencing technology that simultaneously digests DNA molecules to its constituent mononucleotides and analyzes them using dual-in plane SSN technology.