The ability to manipulate and probe biomolecules at the single-molecule level has become an essential approach for understanding molecular interactions, conformational dynamics, and nanoscale transport phenomena. Advances in experimental techniques have enabled precise control of individual molecules with high spatial resolution and piconewton-level force sensitivity. These developments have significantly expanded the capability of studying biomolecular mechanics and dynamics beyond conventional ensemble measurements. A variety of physical strategies have been developed for single-molecule manipulation, including mechanical-force-based approaches, electric-field-driven methods, and nanoscale structural confinement techniques. Mechanical-force-based methods, such as optical tweezers, magnetic tweezers, and atomic force microscopy, enable direct measurement of molecular mechanical responses. Electric-field-based manipulation, represented by dielectrophoresis, allows noncontact control of particles and biomolecules through polarization effects in non-uniform electric fields. In addition, nanopore-based systems employ nanoscale confinement to regulate molecular transport and residence behavior. This review provides an overview of representative single-molecule manipulation techniques based on mechanical, electrical, and structural control and discusses their fundamental principles and implementation strategies.

We analyzed the drift current by charged particles according to the loading methods applied into a closed cell by electronic ink at a reflective-type display panel using an electrophoretic mechanism. For this experiment, various panels were fabricated with injection voltages for electronic ink taking values in the range -4~0 V. The size of each cell was 220 μm × 220 μm and height of the barrier rib was 54.28 μm. The electronic ink was fabricated by mixing electrically neutral fluid and single-charge white particles. Drift current was measured by moving charged particles. A biasing voltage of 6 V was applied to the display panel. As a result, the drift current was proportional to the injection voltage for electronic ink, but it decreased in case of an injection voltage above -3 V. Our experimentation ascertained that the concentration of charged particles injected into closed cells is controlled by the injection voltage and the selective injection of charged particles above movable q/m is possible.

An investigation was conducted to determine whether the ratio of the fluid to the charged particles affects the panel reflexibility rate and the drifting current flowing in the panel, in electrophoretic-based electronic paper. In this regard, three panels were produced in this study with the ratio of the charged particles to the fluid set as 1:5, 1:1, and 5:1. Each sample was driven using an identical input pulse, for which the current flowing in the panel and the output voltage of the photodiode were measured for the panel reflexibility rate. Consequently, the drifting current initially exhibited a peak value and a saturated value at a later point. This value was proportional to the ratio of the charged particles, and it was similar to this ratio when it is higher than 1:1. The output voltage of the photodiode due to the panel reflexibility rate was proportional to the ratio of the charged particles. However, the response speed decreased if the ratio was higher than 1:1. It is expected that the results of this study will contribute to the analysis of the charging of charged particles in electrophoretic-based electronic paper, and the selection of an appropriate concentration.

A multielectrode electronic paper film capable of expressing a single-color image was fabricated by injecting color electronic ink into an electronic paper panel; on the basis of its reflective or transparent properties, it is possible to control the expression of six single-color images and their transmittance. In this study, a single-color image was represented by driving a multielectrode electronic paper film; color coordinates were measured. The six capable single colors were yellowish pink (0.444, 0.354), white (0.355, 0.352), black (0.241, 0.241), orange (0.514, 0.360), reddish orange (0.606, 0.338), and reddish purple (0.469, 0.145). Color particles used in this paper were black and white, by which six colors are accomplished, but more single-color images can be combined by using cyan, magenta, and yellow particles.

An electronic paper display was fabricated by injecting electronic ink, including white and black particles coated by positive and negative charge control agents (CCA), respectively, into closed cells surrounded by micro-barriers. These two types of charged, colored particles are easily damaged or their charging value can be changed by the injection process; therefore, the electrical and optical properties of the image panel fabricated by the injection method were estimated in this study. The active particle-loading method, proposed as a new electronic ink injection process, was applied, and the electro-optical properties of the resulting three-electrode-type e-paper image panel were analyzed. The reflection rate of the white image-panel fabricated with our new injection method was 24.7%, while that of the same panel fabricated with a previously reported injection method was 19.8%. In addition, the response time was improved by about five times compared to those reported in other publications.

A three-electrode type reflective display (electronic paper) is designed to apply an independent electric field to each three electrodes of the cell including two electric-type of particles and electrically neutral color fluid, so single color realization is possible. In particular, the movement of particles and optical properties are decided by the electric field between two electrodes on the lower substrate. So, the effect of electric field by the distance between two electrodes on the lower substrate is studied with electrode spacing with 10 μm, 15 μm, 20 μm, and 25 μm. By our experimentation, the driving voltage induces more reliable movement of charged particles and the optical properties as compared with the threshold voltage. We ascertain the single color realization and non-inverted particle separation is possible. So the more desirable optical properties are observed in case of the short electrode like 10 μm.

We fabricate a single particle-microcapsule type electronic paper using electrophoresis, which is different with a reported dual particle-microcapsule type and of which electro-optical researches are not reported. So we analyzed a basic properties, such as reflectivity, response time, and driving voltage. Our display panels having various cell-gaps of 30 ㎛, 34 ㎛, 38 ㎛, 42 ㎛, and 46 ㎛ are inspected. As a results, a driving voltage is defined to 10 V and desirable cell-gap is 30 ㎛ or 34 ㎛. Considering a mechanical strength, the optimum cell-gap is 34 ㎛ for the single particle type electronic paper.