A DNA origami plasmonic sensor with environment-independent read-out

Area of Science:

• Nanotechnology
• Biotechnology
• Materials Science

Background:

• DNA origami offers a scalable and biocompatible platform for nanotechnological applications.
• Potential uses include drug delivery and diagnostic contrast agents, relying on conformational changes for function.
• Robustness of these conformational changes in various environments is crucial for reliable performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the read-out robustness of a DNA origami/gold-nanoparticle hybrid structure.
• To investigate the stability of its conformational change-induced plasmonic property alterations in different media.
• To confirm the reliability of DNA origami-based sensing mechanisms.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a tetragonal DNA origami/gold-nanoparticle hybrid structure.
• Inducing conformational changes via specific DNA target interaction.
• Analyzing the structure's plasmonic properties in aqueous solution, on a solid support, and within a viscous gel.

Main Results:

• The DNA origami/gold-nanoparticle hybrid structure exhibited a conformational change upon target recognition.
• This conformational change, and its associated plasmonic signal, remained stable across all tested media (aqueous, solid, gel).
• The read-out signal was unaffected by subsequent physical interactions with the environment.

Conclusions:

• The conformational changes of the investigated DNA origami structure are robust and reliable.
• This robustness ensures consistent performance of DNA origami-based sensors and actuators in diverse conditions.
• The findings support the use of DNA origami in complex biological and technological settings.