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Updated: Jun 9, 2026
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Synthesis and Characterization of Supramolecular Colloids
Published on: April 22, 2016
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A DNA-encoded recipe to direct multistage colloidal assembly.
Pepijn G Moerman1,2, Cheng-Hung Chou1, Thomas E Videbæk3
1Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218.
Summary
Scientists engineered complex structures using DNA-encoded reactions to control self-assembly kinetics. This kinetic control allows diverse structures with tunable features, moving beyond equilibrium limitations.
Area of Science:
- Biomolecular Engineering
- Materials Science
- Chemical Physics
Background:
- Equilibrium self-assembly yields ordered, periodic structures limited by free energy minima.
- Non-equilibrium processes offer pathways to kinetically stabilized states with complex structures.
- Targeting specific kinetically stabilized states remains a challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the design space of non-equilibrium self-assembly for complex structure formation.
- To demonstrate the use of DNA-encoded reactions for programming assembly pathways.
- To achieve kinetic control over self-assembly for tunable structures.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a DNA-encoded recipe with multiple biomolecular reactions.
- Independently controlled time-dependent binding strength and specificity of subunits.
- Engineered assembly pathways leading to kinetically trapped final states.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated that the same building blocks can form diverse structures via kinetic control.
- Created structures with tunable core-shell compositions and feature sizes larger than building blocks.
- Showcased the governance of structure by DNA-encoded assembly kinetics.
Conclusions:
- DNA-encoded kinetic control unlocks access to complex, multi-length scale structures.
- Independent regulation of reaction timing enables precise control over assembly pathways.
- This approach holds potential for morphogenesis-like engineered assembly processes.
