Measurements of molecular size and shape on a chip.

Size and shape are critical discriminators between molecular species and states. We describe a microchip-based high-throughput imaging approach offering rapid and precise determination of molecular properties under native solution conditions. Our method detects differences in molecular weight across at least three orders of magnitude and down to two carbon atoms in small molecules.

Sensing the structural and conformational properties of single-stranded nucleic acids using electrometry and molecular simulations.

Inferring the 3D structure and conformation of disordered biomolecules, e.g., single stranded nucleic acids (ssNAs), remains challenging due to their conformational heterogeneity in solution.

Far-Field Electrostatic Signatures of Macromolecular 3D Conformation.

In solution as in vacuum, the electrostatic field distribution in the vicinity of a charged object carries information on its three-dimensional geometry. We report on an experimental study exploring the effect of molecular shape on long-range electrostatic interactions in solution. Working with DNA nanostructures carrying approximately equal amounts of total charge but each in a different three-dimensional conformation, we demonstrate that the geometry of the distribution of charge in a molecule has substantial impact on its electrical interactions.