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Design and Synthesis of a Reconfigurable DNA Accordion Rack
Published on: August 15, 2018
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Selective transformations between nanoparticle superlattices via the reprogramming of DNA-mediated interactions
Yugang Zhang1, Suchetan Pal2, Babji Srinivasan3
1Center for Functional Nanomaterials, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973, USA.
Nature Materials
|May 26, 2015
Summary
Researchers developed a method to dynamically control nanoparticle superlattice structures using DNA strands. This allows a single
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Self-assembly enables nanoscale material organization.
- Dynamic control over material states is challenging in designed nanoparticle systems.
- Existing systems lack on-demand transformation into multiple distinct phases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate dynamic control over nanoparticle superlattice structures.
- To enable transformation into multiple distinct 'daughter' phases from an initial 'mother' phase.
- To investigate the role of DNA strands in reprogramming interparticle interactions.
Main Methods:
- In situ small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) to observe structural changes.
- Utilizing DNA strands as external inputs for structural transformation.
- Employing free-energy calculations to map interaction reprogramming.
Main Results:
- Successfully switched a 3D lattice of DNA-coated nanoparticles between phases.
- Demonstrated transformation from an initial 'mother' phase to multiple 'daughter' phases.
- Quantitatively mapped selective reprogramming of interparticle interactions.
Conclusions:
- DNA-strand inputs enable dynamic, on-demand control of nanoparticle superlattice structures.
- This provides a pathway to create materials with tunable, multi-state organization.
- The findings offer new possibilities for responsive nanomaterials.
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