DNA as invisible ink for AFM nanolithography

Area of Science:

• Nanotechnology
• Materials Science
• Biophysics

Background:

• Precise fabrication of nanoscale structures is crucial for advanced applications.
• DNA self-assembly offers a versatile platform for creating ordered nanostructures.
• Controlling the properties of DNA nanostructures, such as packing and density, remains a challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a tip-guided nanolithography technique for fabricating DNA nanostructures.
• To achieve local control over DNA packing order, density, and thickness.
• To create reversible and high-fidelity DNA patterns on gold surfaces.

Main Methods:

• Utilized nanografting, an atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based nanolithography technique.
• Fabricated thiolated DNA nanostructures on gold surfaces.
• Embedded single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) patches into a self-assembled DNA background.

Main Results:

• Achieved local control over DNA packing order and density.
• Demonstrated that nanografted ssDNA patches become topographically invisible.
• Observed a dramatic increase in nanografted layer thickness upon hybridization with complementary DNA (cDNA).
• Showcased reversible pattern emergence and disappearance through repeated hybridization and dehybridization.

Conclusions:

• Nanografting enables precise fabrication of DNA nanostructures with controlled properties.
• The developed method allows for the creation of dynamic and reversible nanoscale patterns.
• This technique holds potential for applications in nanoscale information storage and biosensing.