McGill scientists unveil a new way to study DNA with light touch
A team from McGill University has introduced a compact device that can trap and study single DNA molecules without touching or damaging them. By applying carefully tuned electric fields, the system achieves reversible electrokinetic confinement, or RECON, allowing researchers to observe how DNA behaves in real time under controlled, non-contact conditions. The breakthrough, described in Science Advances, promises faster, more precise molecular analysis that could transform diagnostics, genome mapping, and the study of disease-related biomolecules.
How RECON works: a shift from mechanical to electrokinetic control
From mechanical grip to electrical guidance
Traditional approaches to single-molecule analysis often relied on physically confining molecules in grooves or wells and then mechanically manipulating them. Those methods can risk damage to fragile DNA strands and offer limited control over position and motion. The RECON platform replaces physical confinement with finely tuned electric fields that lure and hold DNA molecules in a tiny well, while still letting scientists adjust conditions in real time. This approach minimizes stress on the molecule and opens new avenues for studying dynamic behavior that was previously difficult to observe.
The AM radio dial analogy
Pushing field strengths into the right frequency lets researchers trap DNA molecules without harming them, much like tuning an AM radio to a specific station. The device’s ability to set a precise confinement voltage means researchers can hold a molecule for extended observation, then loosen confinement at will to watch how it moves and responds to changes in the electric field. This combination of stability and tunability is what makes RECON a powerful tool for single-molecule studies.
Why this matters: accelerating discovery and diagnostics
By controlling DNA at the smallest scales while preserving its integrity, RECON enables new experiments that could accelerate chemical reactions on nanoscale carriers, such as liposomes used in drug delivery. Scientists can trigger release or observe how DNA interacts with lipid-based systems, gaining insights into molecular dynamics that underpin diagnostics, genome mapping, and the study of disease-associated molecules. Beyond basic science, the technology holds promise for simulating cellular environments, providing a testbed for understanding how biomolecules behave in complex, life-like settings.
The collaboration behind the breakthrough
The tool was developed in the Nanobiophysics lab led by Professor Walter Reisner, with contributions from Professor Sara Mahshid’s Bioengineering lab at McGill, and the genomics technology startup Dimension Genomics. The research also involved collaborators from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Matheus Azevedo Silva Pessôa, a doctoral student specializing in nanofluids, led the effort. The project reflects a cross-disciplinary effort to translate physical principles into practical tools for molecular biology and medicine.
About the study and future directions
The study, titled “Single-molecule capture, release, and dynamical manipulation via reversible electrokinetic confinement (RECON),” reports that this non-invasive method can capture, hold, and dynamically manipulate DNA molecules while allowing researchers to modify the confinement in real time. It is funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and Dimension Genomics, with additional support from the Fonds de recherche du Québec–Nature et technologies (FRQNT) and the U.S. National Science Foundation for materials and technical expertise related to the DNA nanotubes used in the project. By enabling longer observation times without damage, RECON could shorten the path from fundamental discovery to practical diagnostics and therapeutics.
Looking ahead
As researchers continue to refine electrokinetic confinement, the potential applications could expand to more sophisticated simulations of cellular interiors and higher-throughput single-molecule analyses. The ability to control, observe, and release DNA on demand makes RECON a versatile platform for both fundamental biophysics and translational science, potentially accelerating new diagnostic tools and genome-wide studies in the years ahead.
