Detection of single molecules using stochastic resonance of bistable oligomers

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates through simulations that bistable oligomers exhibit stochastic resonance and conformational dynamics similar to nonlinear systems, enabling potential single-molecule detection.

Contribution

It introduces the concept that bistable oligomers can serve as operational units for single-molecule detection by leveraging stochastic resonance.

Findings

Oligomers show spontaneous vibrations and stochastic resonance due to thermal noise.

Attachment of molecular cargo shifts vibration and resonance modes.

Bistable oligomers can function as sensors for single molecules.

Abstract

Our computer simulations have shown that the large-scale conformational dynamics of a short oligomeric fragment of thermoresponsive polymers resemble the mechanical movement of nonlinear bistable systems. The oligomers demonstrate spontaneous vibrations and stochastic resonance activated by the thermal noise. We have observed reasonable shifts of the spontaneous vibrations and stochastic resonance modes when attaching a molecular cargo to the oligomer. All these effects indicate that bistable oligomers may work as operational units capable of detecting single molecules.