Revolutionary Single-Molecule Valve at the Nanoscale

A joint research team led by Associate Professor Yan Xu of the Osaka Metropolitan University Graduate School of Engineering has succeeded in regulating the flow of single molecules in solution by opening and closing a nanovalve in a nanofluidic device by applying external pressure. The findings of this study could be a significant step towards freely assembling materials using single molecules as building blocks in solution, which has the potential to be useful in various fields, such as developing personalized medicines for rare diseases and creating better displays and batteries.