Issue 19, 2023

Exploring the dynamics of DNA nucleotides in graphene/h-BN nanopores: insights from ab initio molecular dynamics

Abstract

Nanopore devices based on graphene and h-BN heterostructures show outstanding electrical and physical characteristics for high throughput label-free DNA sequencing. On top of their suitability for DNA sequencing with the ionic current method, G/h-BN nanostructures are promising for DNA sequencing by employing the in-plane electronic current. The influence of the nucleotide/device interaction on the in-plane current has been widely explored for static-optimized geometries. Therefore, it is essential to investigate the dynamics of the nucleotides within the G/h-BN nanopores to gain a comprehensive view of their interaction with the nanopores. In this study, we investigated the dynamic interaction between nucleotides and nanopores in horizontal graphene/h-BN/graphene heterostructures. The insulating h-BN layer, where the nanopores are implemented, changes the in-plane charge transport mechanism into the quantum mechanical tunneling regime. We employed the Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics (CPMD) formalism to investigate the interaction of the nucleotides with nanopores in a vacuum as well as in an aqueous environment. The simulation was performed in the NVE canonical ensemble with an initial temperature of 300 K. The results indicate that the interaction between the electronegative ends of the nucleotides and the atoms at the nanopore edge is essential for the dynamic behavior of the nucleotides. Moreover, water molecules have a substantial effect on the dynamics and interactions of the nucleotides with nanopores.

Graphical abstract: Exploring the dynamics of DNA nucleotides in graphene/h-BN nanopores: insights from ab initio molecular dynamics

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
26 Gen. 2023
Accepted
18 Ebr. 2023
First published
19 Ebr. 2023

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2023,25, 13452-13464

Exploring the dynamics of DNA nucleotides in graphene/h-BN nanopores: insights from ab initio molecular dynamics

A. Kiakojouri, I. Frank and E. Nadimi, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2023, 25, 13452 DOI: 10.1039/D3CP00416C

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