DNA-functionalized colloidal crystals for macromolecular encapsulation

Soft Matter. 2022 Sep 21;18(36):6954-6964. doi: 10.1039/d2sm00949h.

Abstract

Novel DNA-based structures with the ability to encapsulate nanoscale molecules, such as proteins, can be applied to a wide range of areas, including reaction fields and micro/nano drug carriers. DNA-functionalized nanoparticle (DNA-NP) colloidal crystals have emerged as a new class of programmable DNA-based structures harboring metal nanoparticles with improved mechanical properties. The encapsulation of guest molecules into empty spaces in lattice structures is theoretically possible. However, due to the lack of a strategy for versatile encapsulation of guest molecules, the feasibility of nanoscale encapsulation by DNA-NP crystals is unclear. In this study, we developed DNA-functionalized gold nanoparticle (DNA-AuNP) crystals with tunable interparticle spacing for molecular encapsulation. We demonstrated that the modification of DNA-AuNP crystals with functional moieties, that is, biotin molecules, was effective in retaining molecules in the crystals. The crystallinities before and after encapsulation of the molecules were confirmed using small-angle X-ray scattering. We also succeeded in encapsulating CRISPR/Cas9 ribonucleoproteins into DNA-AuNP crystals by harnessing their affinity for target molecules. These findings demonstrated the potential use of metal-DNA hybrid crystals as carriers for direct protein delivery via biolistic bombardment. Thus, this study provides an attractive strategy for creating a new class of DNA-based structures for macromolecular encapsulation, and an alternative research direction toward colloidal crystal engineering using DNA.

MeSH terms

  • Biotin / metabolism
  • DNA / chemistry
  • Gold* / chemistry
  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Metal Nanoparticles* / chemistry
  • Ribonucleoproteins

Substances

  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Ribonucleoproteins
  • Biotin
  • Gold
  • DNA