Staged Assembly of Colloids Using DNA and Acoustofluidics

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Colloid Science

Background:

• DNA-coated colloids (DNACCs) enable programming of micro/nanoscale materials.
• Current DNACC assembly relies on internal DNA sequences or colloid geometry for single-particle resolution.
• External control over larger scales is limited in current DNACC assembly methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present an external acoustic programming approach for DNACC assembly.
• To demonstrate control over spatial resolution at larger scales.
• To enable fabrication of hierarchical structures beyond DNA-based programming.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing acoustic radiation forces to drive DNACC assembly.
• Applying programmable acoustic wave parameters (frequency, amplitude, phase).
• Assembling DNACCs under varying acoustic frequencies across different stages.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated hierarchical structure formation through staged acoustic frequencies.
• Achieved assembly of colloidal structures with diverse morphologies by programming acoustic waves.
• Showcased the versatility of the acoustic approach across different colloidal systems.

Conclusions:

• Acoustic programming offers external control over DNACC assembly with large-scale spatial resolution.
• This method facilitates the creation of complex hierarchical materials.
• The approach is broadly applicable to various colloidal systems due to nonspecific acoustic forces.