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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2012 Oct 1.
Published in final edited form as: Nano Today. 2011 Oct 1;6(5):531–545. doi: 10.1016/j.nantod.2011.08.012

Table 1.

Using the resistive pulse signal, common equations for calculating particle size, shape, charge, and concentration from the resistive pulse frequency, magnitude, and duration.

Nomenclature
A Cross sectional area of a pore f Shape factor for spheroid with longest dimension perpendicular to pore wall ve Electrosmotic velocity
C Particle concentration fΠ Shape factor for spheroid with longest dimension parallel to pore wall vp Fluid velocity
vs Object velocity through pore
D Pore diameter R Resistance vμ Electrophoretic velocity
Ds Small pore opening diameter in a conical pore ΔR Change in resistance μ Electrophoretic mobility
Dl Large pore opening diameter in a conical pore L Pore length Δt Pulse duration, translocation time
d particle diameter Lc Effective resistive pore length V Pore volume
EM Electric potential J Event frequency v Particle volume
f Shape factor ρ Solution resistivity z Direction along pore length axis
Measured
variable
Equation
Conditions/References
Eq. 1
R=ρL0dzA(z)
Resistance in a pore [65]


Resistance R
Eq. 2
R=4LcρπD2
For a cylindrical pore [6] Lc = L + 0.8Di
Eq. 3
R=4LcρπDsDL
Total resistance in a conical pore. Replacing DL and L with Dz and z, the diameter of the pore at a distance z from the small opening can be used to calculate the resistance gradient profile [76].
Eq. 4
ΔRR=fvVS(d/D)
A general expression resistance change to particle and pore volume fraction [6, 65, 68]. For spherical particle (f =3/2) and d << D (S = 1) this becomes Maxwell’s theory.
Eq. 5
ΔRR=d3D2LcS(d/D)
The general expression in terms of a cylindrical pore containing a spherical particle. Combining (1) and (4).
Pulse Magnitude
ΔRR
Eq. 6 f is particle shape factor [49, 54, 68]
  f = 3/ 2
  For spherical particles [65]
  f = f + (fΠf)cos2 α
For non-spherical oblate and prolate spheroids as they tumble through a pore [49, 54, 68].
Eq. 7
S(d/D)=[10.8(d/D)3]1
An empirical correction factor developed to describe the non-linear trend between v and V [69, 70, 77].


Pulse Frequency
Eq. 8
J=πvsD24C
Nernst-Planck equation relating event frequency to dispersion concentration in a cylindrical pore [20]. The formula includes velocity contributions from electrophoretic and electroosmotic flow, diffusion and external pressure.
Pulse Duration Δt Eq. 9
1Δtf(vμ)+f(vp)+f(ve)
Particle velocity through a cylindrical pore is a combination of electrokinetic and fluid flow forces [52, 78]. Diffusion velocity is considered negligible in a pore. The combined velocities are inversely proportion to the pulse duration.
Eq. 10
μ=Lc2EMΔt
Particle Charge (electrophoretic mobility) measurements can be made when vp and ve are negligible [50, 78].
i

Lc = L+0.8D in all following formulas (with exception of conical pore, Eq. 3). This takes into account the residual electric field outside the pore openings.