Design, Mechanisms, and Applications of DNA-Mediated Dynamically Reconfigurable Plasmonic Gold Nanostructures

Unlike the fixed formations of static gold nanostructures (AuNSs), reconfigurable AuNSs offer versatility when designing nanomaterials and biosensors because they can dynamically respond to external stimuli in a tunable manner. These dynamic systems enable in situ reaction monitoring and cyclic switching functions. An appropriate design of the architecture of the nanostructures is crucial because it dictates the operational principles of the system. This review explores the design and working principles of reconfigurable gold-based plasmonic nanostructures by modulating highly programmable DNA and through chemical and physical stimuli such as temperature, light, pH, and metal ions. Methods are discussed to control these factors and use them as actuation handles for affecting the reconfigurability of these structures. In addition, the utilization of these properties and functions in bio-applications and functional hybrid materials is illustrated, which demonstrates the practical applications of reconfigurable AuNSs in advanced materials science and biomedicine.