Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 14, 2025
10:23
Self-assembly of Complex Two-dimensional Shapes from Single-stranded DNA Tiles
Published on: May 8, 2015
11.9K
Regulating DNA Self-Assembly Dynamics with Controlled Nucleation
Shuoxing Jiang1, Nibedita Pal2, Fan Hong1
1Center for Molecular Design and Biomimetics at the Biodesign Institute, and School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States.
ACS Nano
|March 11, 2021
Summary
Researchers engineered a DNA tile system to control self-assembly nucleation. They identified three nucleation modes and developed a method to precisely control assembly timing and location using a DNA origami frame and UV trigger.
Area of Science:
- Biomolecular Engineering
- Nanotechnology
- Materials Science
Background:
- Controlling nucleation is key for complex self-assembly.
- DNA tile systems offer programmable self-assembly capabilities.
- Understanding nucleation dynamics is crucial for precise structural engineering.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the dynamics of unseeded, facet, and seeded nucleation in DNA tile self-assembly.
- To develop a model system for studying and controlling nucleation pathways.
- To demonstrate external control over the timing and location of DNA tile nucleation.
Main Methods:
- Designed a 'frame-filling' DNA tile and DNA origami frame model system.
- Utilized kinetic simulations to determine optimal temperature ranges for nucleation mode differentiation.
- Employed Mg2+-triggered kinetic measurements and single-molecule observations to monitor tile polymerization.
- Developed a 'nucleation-growth' model to quantify nucleation tendency.
- Integrated an ultraviolet (UV)-responsive trigger into the DNA origami frame.
Main Results:
- Successfully differentiated and monitored three distinct nucleation modes (unseeded, facet, seeded).
- Quantified nucleation tendency using an empirical nucleation number within a nucleation-growth model.
- Demonstrated external control over nucleation timing and location using a UV-responsive DNA origami frame.
- Correlated temperature-dependent kinetics across all three nucleation modes.
Conclusions:
- Revealed the dynamic mechanisms underlying different nucleation modes in DNA tile self-assembly.
- Provided a general strategy for externally controlling DNA tile self-assembly nucleation.
- The developed system offers precise control over structural complexity and dynamic behaviors in nanomaterials.
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