Oxford Nanopore Technologies Ltd. announced that it has completed a series of agreements with academic research institutions including University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Brown University, Stanford University, Boston University, University of Cambridge and University of Southampton. Oxford Nanopore has an intellectual property portfolio of more than 300 issued patents and patent applications in over 80 patent families. The company is currently pursuing techniques for nanopore-based analysis using biological and solid-state nanopores, as well as hybrid versions of these, and also including a wide variety of adaptations and modifications.

The expanded IP portfolio now covers a broad range of technologies, including: DNA base identification using a biological nanopore; Characterisation of individual polymer molecules based on monomer-interface interactions; Addition of adapters to nanopores for sensing; Genetically modified nanopores for sensing; Combining nanopores and enzymes for sensing; Use of molecular motors in combination with nanopores; Localising polymerases to a surface, including pore-bound localisation; Use of solid state nanopores for detecting labelled ssDNA and dsDNA; Use of solid state devices to control movement of polymers; Detection and positional measurement of probes on a DNA strand as the strand passes through a nanoscale detector; Methods of fabricating solid-state nanopores including multi-layered devices; The use of functionalised solid-state nanopores for molecular characterisation, including graphene, tunnelling currents and nanotubes; Time-based multiplexed nanopore measurements on a single chip, including the incorporation of 96 well plate; Use of voltage to control DNA under feedback; Measurement of DNA interacting with a limited volume, such as a polymerase on a surface; Planar lipid bilayer array chip for parallel sensing from multiple channels; Sequencing by means of detection of products of enzymatic action on DNA/RNA using a nanopore; The use of multiple 'nodes' to analyse a single sample in a federated/clustered manner to reduce the time to result, and improve operating efficiencies; Methods and algorithms for analysing nanopore signals.