Liquid crystal alignment on a chiral surface: interfacial interaction with sheared DNA films

Langmuir. 2008 Sep 16;24(18):10390-4. doi: 10.1021/la800639x. Epub 2008 May 20.

Abstract

We explore the alignment of various achiral liquid crystals on films of aligned double-stranded helical DNA. In all cases and both for the nematic and smectic A phases, we find a distinctly chiral interfacial structure, with the mean orientation of the liquid crystal in contact with the DNA-treated surfaces chirally rotated through a substantial angle with respect to the mean DNA orientation. This rotation originates in the chirality of double-stranded DNA and depends on the liquid crystal molecular structure. We discuss the role of dipolar and hydrophobic coupling in determining the observed orientation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Anisotropy
  • Biochemistry / methods
  • Biophysics / methods
  • Crystallization
  • DNA / chemistry*
  • Liquid Crystals*
  • Microscopy, Polarization
  • Molecular Structure
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • Spectrometry, Fluorescence / methods
  • Stereoisomerism
  • Surface Properties

Substances

  • DNA