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Published on: January 19, 2019
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DNA-caged nanoparticles via electrostatic self-assembly.
Elizabeth Jergens1, Silvio de Araujo Fernandes-Junior1,2,3, Yixiao Cui4
1William G. Lowrie Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA. winter.63@osu.edu.
Nanoscale
|May 15, 2023
Summary
We developed a novel electrostatic DNA caging method for modifying nanoparticles. This technique offers controlled DNA presentation on various nanoparticles for applications in nanomedicine and materials science.
Area of Science:
- Nanomaterials
- DNA nanotechnology
- Surface chemistry
Background:
- DNA-modified nanoparticles are vital for nanomedicine and DNA-based material self-assembly.
- Current DNA conjugation methods are inefficient and lack precise control over DNA presentation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a new, controllable method for modifying nanoparticle surfaces with DNA using electrostatic attraction.
- To demonstrate the versatility of this approach across different nanoparticle types and sizes.
Main Methods:
- Utilized electrostatic attraction between negatively charged DNA tiles and positively charged nanoparticles.
- Employed transmission electron microscopy (TEM), zeta potential analysis, and fluorescence experiments to confirm DNA cage formation.
- Tested DNA handle functionality in solution, at interfaces, and within fixed cells.
Main Results:
- Successfully formed DNA cages on various nanoparticles (polymeric micelles, polystyrene beads, gold nanoparticles, superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles) ranging from 5-20 nm.
- Confirmed DNA cage formation and demonstrated the programmability of DNA presentation.
- Verified the functionality of DNA 'handle' sequences for reversible attachment and self-assembly.
Conclusions:
- The electrostatic DNA caging approach provides a versatile and controllable pathway for nanoparticle modification with DNA.
- This method enhances the utility of DNA-nanoparticle conjugates for diverse applications in biosensing, DNA microarrays, and erasable immunocytochemistry.
- This work opens new avenues for advanced applications in nanomedicine and materials science.
