How to build nanoblocks using DNA scaffolds

In recent years there have been a number of proposals to utilize the specificity of DNA-based interactions for potential applications in nanoscience. One interesting direction is the self-assembly of micro- and nanoparticle clusters using DNA scaffolds. In this letter we consider a DNA scaffold meth...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Europhysics letters 2008-10, Vol.84 (2), p.20010-20010(4)
Main Authors: Licata, N. A, Tkachenko, A. V
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
05.65.+b
05.70.Ln
61.46.-w
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Summary:In recent years there have been a number of proposals to utilize the specificity of DNA-based interactions for potential applications in nanoscience. One interesting direction is the self-assembly of micro- and nanoparticle clusters using DNA scaffolds. In this letter we consider a DNA scaffold method to self-assemble clusters of “colored" particles. Stable clusters of identical microspheres have recently been produced by an entirely different method. Our DNA-based approach self-assembles clusters with additional degrees of freedom associated with particle permutation. We demonstrate that in the non-equilibrium regime of irreversible binding the self-assembly process is experimentally feasible. These color degrees of freedom may allow for more diverse intercluster interactions essential for hierarchical self-assembly of larger structures.
ISSN:0295-5075
1286-4854
DOI:10.1209/0295-5075/84/20010