Surprising biomedical application found for ASML’s chipmaking EUV lithography machines — they can mass produce nanopores for molecular sensing
IMEC has successfully utilized ASML’s EUV lithography machines to mass produce nanopores for molecular sensing applications. These nanopores, which are minuscule holes just a few nanometers wide, offer significant potential in biomedicine due to their ability to detect and analyze molecules like viruses, proteins, and DNA. The use of nanopores in biomedical sensors involves measuring ionic currents flowing through them to identify different molecules based on their electrical signatures. This breakthrough in nanopore production could lead to more accessible and cost-effective precision nanopores for medical equipment, although the high demand for ASML's EUV equipment in the semiconductor industry may pose challenges for widespread adoption.