Small molecules

Nanopores Office Oxford Nanopore's technology platform has the potential to be adapted for the analysis of various small molecules.  This category may include environmental toxins, explosives, pharmaceutical molecules and much more.  

The publications listed on this page describe the use of an adapted nanopore for the differentiation of two enantiomers of the drug ibuprofen, and for the detection of a potential chemical weapon.  
 
Types of small molecule
The term small molecule describes a diverse range of chemical entities of less than 800Da.  The molecule would not be a polymer, or have only a limited degree of polymerisation.  Their size gives these molecules the potential to diffuse across the cell membrane.  The term is usually reserved for the description of an organic compound which has some pharmacological activity, but the name can accurately be applied to any number of chemical species that lack biological activity, such as explosives or chemical contaminants.

Small molecules may be include:
  • Biologically active small molecules:
         - Naturally occurring compounds
         - Toxins
         - Legal pharmaceuticals (vitamins, caffeine, etc)
         - Controlled drugs (cocaine, heroin, etc)
  • Synthetic compounds
         - Toxins
         - Legal compounds (ibuprofen, paracetamol, etc)
         - Controlled compounds (MDMA, methamphetamine, etc)
  • Biologically inactive molecules
         - Explosives
         - Dyes
         - Chemical contaminants

 Publications:
The following studies have examined the study of small molecules using a nanopore sensor:

Pharmaceuticals:  Identification of the chiral nature of a common pharmaceutical species.  Kang, X.F., Cheley, S., Guan, X. and Bayley, H. (2006) Stochastic detection of enantiomers. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 128; 10684-10685

Toxins:  Wu, H.C. and Bayley, H. (2008) Single molecule detention of nitrogen mustards by covalent reaction within a protein nanopore.J. Am. Chem. Soc. 130; 6813-6819