Pore-forming confined space for the innovative electrochemical methods

Pore-forming confined space, especially at nanoscale, creates a unique environment that is able to controllably and precisely influence the interaction between pores and analytes. Hence, nanopore-based methods offer the possibility to in-situ and operando characterize single particle or molecule at ultra-high temporal and spatial resolutions. This review is to highlight the latest research progress of a typical biological nanopore (aerolysin) as an example to demonstrate the capability of this technique, covering the direct use of wild-type aerolysin nanopores to detect and discriminate nucleotides of difference lengths or with various nucleobases, and the rational mutation of aerolysin nanopores to further enhance the sensitivity and selectivity. These progresses clearly demonstrate the great potential of nanopore or confined space approach in novel electrochemical sensing.