US Patent 7618771 - Stretched nucleic acid nanowire

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7618771.html

This patent from Searete LLC (associated with Intellectual Ventures) proposes a methodology using fluid flow to stretch out a nucleic acid molecule which is suggested for the construction of nanoscale circuitry. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method of forming a nanowire, comprising:

applying a nucleic acid-containing solution to a first substrate, the first substrate having a defined structural feature thereon;

controllably flowing the nucleic acid-containing solution over the first substrate in a manner that promotes stretching of a nucleic acid molecule from the defined structural feature along the first substrate;

applying a conductive material to the stretched nucleic acid molecule to form a nanowire; and
controlling a surface charge of the first substrate, wherein the surface charge acts to attract the nucleic acid molecule to the first substrate.