A Brownian-ratchet DNA pump with applications to single-nucleotide polymorphism genotyping

We have fabricated a micron-scale device capable of transporting DNA oligomers using Brownian ratchets. The ratchet potential is generated by applying a voltage difference to interdigitated electrodes. Cycling between the charged state and a discharged, free-diffusion state rectifies the Brownian motion of charged particles. The observed macroscopic transport properties agree with the transport rate predicted from microscopic parameters including the DNA diffusivity, the dimensions of the ratchet potential, and the cycling time. Applications to human genetics, primarily genotyping of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), are discussed.