Nanopore approaches for single-molecule temporal omics: promises and challenges

The great molecular heterogeneity within single cells demands omics analysis from a single-molecule perspective. Moreover, considering the perpetual metabolism and communication within cells, it is essential to determine the time-series changes of the molecular library, rather than obtaining data at only one time point. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop a single-molecule strategy for this omics analysis to elucidate the biosystem heterogeneity and temporal dynamics. In this Perspective, we explore the potential application of nanopores for single-molecule temporal omics to characterize individual molecules beyond mass, in both a single-molecule and high-throughput manner. Accordingly, recent advances in nanopores available for single-molecule temporal omics are reviewed from the view of single-molecule mass identification, revealing single-molecule heterogeneity and illustrating temporal evolution. Furthermore, we discuss the primary challenges associated with using nanopores for single-molecule temporal omics in complex biological samples, and present the potential strategies and notes to respond to these challenges.