Ionic Liquid-Induced Assembly of DNA at Air-Water Interface

DNA nanotechnology is the future of many products in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. Self-assembly of this negatively charged biopolymer at surfaces and interfaces is an essential step to elaborate its field of applications. In this study, the ionic liquid (IL) monolayer-assisted self-assembly of DNA macromolecules at the air-water interface has been closely monitored by employing various quantitative techniques, namely, surface pressure-area (π-A) isotherms, surface potential, interfacial rheology, and X-ray reflectivity (XRR). The π-A isotherms reveal that the IL 1,3-didecyl 3-methyl imidazolium chloride induces DNA self-assembly at the interface, leading to a thick viscoelastic film. The interfacial rheology exhibits a notable rise in the viscoelastic modulus as the surface pressure increases. The values of storage and loss moduli measured as a function of strain frequency suggest a relaxation frequency that depends on the length of the macromolecule. The XRR measurements indicate a considerable increase in DNA layer thickness at the elevated surface pressures depending on the number of base pairs of the DNA. The results are considered in terms of the electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions, allowing a quantitative conclusion about the arrangement of DNA strands underneath the monolayer of the ILs at the air-water interface.