Platforms

File:Oxford Nanopore MinION side.jpg

Oxford Nanopore MinION portable sequencer. Source: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Platforms is part of the Nanopore Wiki learning path. Nanopore platforms range from custom single-pore electrophysiology rigs to commercial sequencing instruments and integrated sensing chips.

Core concepts

• A platform includes pore chemistry, flow cell or chamber, electronics, software, and consumables.
• Commercial systems prioritize robust workflows and throughput.
• Custom rigs prioritize flexibility and mechanistic control.
• Platform choice determines file formats, metadata, controls, and analysis pipelines.

Platform selection

Step	Description
1	Define whether the goal is sequencing, sensing, method development, or teaching.
2	Compare throughput, portability, cost, consumables, and required expertise.
3	Check data formats and supported analysis tools.
4	Design controls around platform-specific failure modes.

Typical applications

• Portable sequencing.
• Laboratory-scale single-molecule experiments.
• Device engineering and sensor development.

Common pitfalls

• Choosing an instrument before defining the scientific question.
• Ignoring consumable availability, model versions, and software requirements.
• Treating marketing specifications as experimental guarantees.

Related pages

• Oxford Nanopore
• MinION
• Nanopore sequencing
• Experimental workflows

References

• Oxford Nanopore Technologies
• MinION