Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 14, 2026

10:43
Single-Molecule Diffusion and Assembly on Polymer-Crowded Lipid Membranes
Published on: July 19, 2022
DNA density-dependent assembly behavior of colloidal micelles
Bryan A Baker1, Valeria T Milam
1School of Materials Science & Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 771 Ferst Drive NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0245, USA.
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|March 31, 2010
Summary
DNA probe density, not temperature, controls DNA-mediated colloidal particle assembly. This finding is crucial for designing directed assembly of submicrometer and micrometer particles using DNA hybridization.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Biotechnology
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- DNA-mediated colloidal assembly offers tunable particle adhesion.
- Sequence characteristics influence DNA binding strength.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate DNA-mediated assembly of polystyrene colloidal particles.
- Analyze the impact of sequence length, fidelity, and probe density.
- Explore DNA sequences from the Salmonella genome.
Main Methods:
- Studied polystyrene colloidal particles with DNA sequences.
- Varied DNA sequence length, fidelity, and probe density.
- Examined assembly under different temperature conditions.
Main Results:
- DNA probe density significantly impacts hybridization between colloidal particles.
- Higher incubation temperatures had less effect than probe density.
- Assembly is primarily governed by the density of immobilized DNA probes.
Conclusions:
- Probe density is a critical factor in DNA-mediated particle assembly.
- Findings inform the design of directed assembly systems.
- Applicable to submicrometer and micrometer particle assembly using DNA hybridization.
Related Concept Videos
The Colloidal State
The formation of a colloidal system is exemplified by an aqueous solution containing Cl− ions is introduced to another containing Ag+ ions, resulting in the precipitation of solid AgCl as extremely tiny crystals. Instead of settling out as a filterable precipitate, these crystals remain suspended in the liquid, showcasing a colloidal system.A colloidal system involves colloidal particles within the approximate range of 1 to 1000 nm in at least one dimension, dispersed in a medium called the...
Micelles
Micelle formation is an intricate process that hinges on the properties of amphiphilic or amphipathic molecules and the conditions of the system in which they are found. Amphiphilic molecules, which have both hydrophilic (water-attracting) and hydrophobic (water-repelling) parts, play a critical role in this process.In aqueous environments, these molecules arrange themselves such that their hydrophilic heads are turned towards the water phase, while their hydrophobic tails are oriented away...
Colloids
Children at play often make suspensions such as mixtures of mud and water, flour and water, or a suspension of solid pigments in water known as tempera paint. These suspensions are heterogeneous mixtures composed of relatively large particles that are visible to the naked eye or can be seen with a magnifying glass. They are cloudy, and the suspended particles settle out after mixing. On the other hand, a solution is a homogeneous mixture in which no settling occurs and in which the dissolved...
Assembly of Cytoskeletal Filaments
Cytoskeletal filaments are polymeric forms of smaller protein subunits. However, individual cytoskeletal filaments may easily disassemble or associate with other similar filaments to form rigid structures. Microfilaments, made of actin monomers, rely on actin-binding proteins to form bundles and create networks of individual actin filaments. Microtubules rely on microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) to form sturdy cylindrical structures. However, the proteins involved in forming complex...
Protein Complex Assembly
Proteins can form homomeric complexes with another unit of the same protein or heteromeric complexes with different types. Most protein complexes self-assemble spontaneously via ordered pathways, while some proteins need assembly factors that guide their proper assembly. Despite the crowded intracellular environment, proteins usually interact with their correct partners and form functional complexes.
Many viruses self-assemble into a fully functional unit using the infected host cell to...
Many viruses self-assemble into a fully functional unit using the infected host cell to...
Colloidal precipitates
The high insolubility of some precipitates can result in an unfavorable relative supersaturation. This can lead to colloidal particles with a large surface-to-mass ratio, where adsorption is promoted. For instance, in the precipitation of silver chloride, silver ions are adsorbed on the surface of the colloidal particles, forming a primary layer. This layer attracts ions of opposite charge (such as nitrate ions), forming a diffuse secondary layer of adsorbed ions. This electric double layer...

