New approaches for bottom-up assembly of tobacco mosaic virus-derived nucleoprotein tubes on defined patterns on silica- and polymer-based substrates

Langmuir. 2012 Oct 23;28(42):14867-77. doi: 10.1021/la302774h. Epub 2012 Oct 8.

Abstract

The capability of some natural molecular building blocks to self-organize into defined supramolecular architectures is a versatile tool for nanotechnological applications. Their site-selective integration into a technical context, however, still poses a major challenge. RNA-directed self-assembly of tobacco mosaic virus-derived coat protein on immobilized RNA scaffolds presents a possibility to grow nucleoprotein nanotubes in place. Two new methods for their site-selective, bottom-up assembly are introduced. For this purpose, isothiocyanate alkoxysilane was used to activate oxidic surfaces for the covalent immobilization of DNA oligomers, which served as linkers for assembly-directing RNA. Patterned silanization of surfaces was achieved (1) on oxidic surfaces via dip-pen nanolithography and (2) on polymer surfaces (poly(dimethylsiloxane)) via selective oxidization by UV-light irradiation in air. Atomic force microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to characterize the surfaces. It is shown for the first time that the combination of the mentioned structuring methods and the isothiocyanate-based chemistry is appropriate (1) for the site-selective immobilization of nucleic acids and, thus, (2) for the formation of viral nanoparticles by bottom-up self-assembly after adding the corresponding coat proteins.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • DNA / chemistry
  • Dimethylpolysiloxanes / chemistry*
  • Nanotubes / chemistry*
  • Nucleoproteins / chemistry*
  • RNA / chemistry
  • Silicon Dioxide / chemistry*
  • Surface Properties
  • Tobacco Mosaic Virus / chemistry*

Substances

  • Dimethylpolysiloxanes
  • Nucleoproteins
  • baysilon
  • RNA
  • Silicon Dioxide
  • DNA