Facile control of DNA-templated inorganic nanoshell size

We elaborated a facile method to control the size of CdS nanoshells obtained by DNA assisted "double templating" approach. By changing the concentration of NaCl in solution to vary the extent of DNA electrostatic deposition on cationic silica beads, we succeeded to control the density of DNA adsorbed on the beads, and further the density of CdS material grown on DNA. Further dissolution of the silica core triggers shrinking of CdS shell to a different extent depending on the CdS shell density and results in formation of CdS nanoshells of different sizes from ca. 100 nm to ca. 400 nm. Therefore, the main advantage of the proposed method is that it can be used to synthesize hollow nanoshells of various sizes, from ca. 25% to ca. 75% size of the primary template (silica bead), by using only one single primary template.