High precision and high yield fabrication of dense nanoparticle arrays onto DNA origami at statistically independent binding sites

Nanoscale. 2014 Nov 21;6(22):13928-38. doi: 10.1039/c4nr03069a.

Abstract

High precision, high yield, and high density self-assembly of nanoparticles into arrays is essential for nanophotonics. Spatial deviations as small as a few nanometers can alter the properties of near-field coupled optical nanostructures. Several studies have reported assemblies of few nanoparticle structures with controlled spacing using DNA nanostructures with variable yield. Here, we report multi-tether design strategies and attachment yields for homo- and hetero-nanoparticle arrays templated by DNA origami nanotubes. Nanoparticle attachment yield via DNA hybridization is comparable with streptavidin-biotin binding. Independent of the number of binding sites, >97% site-occupation was achieved with four tethers and 99.2% site-occupation is theoretically possible with five tethers. The interparticle distance was within 2 nm of all design specifications and the nanoparticle spatial deviations decreased with interparticle spacing. Modified geometric, binomial, and trinomial distributions indicate that site-bridging, steric hindrance, and electrostatic repulsion were not dominant barriers to self-assembly and both tethers and binding sites were statistically independent at high particle densities.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Binding Sites
  • DNA / chemistry*
  • DNA / metabolism
  • Gold / chemistry
  • Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Microarray Analysis / instrumentation*
  • Microarray Analysis / statistics & numerical data
  • Microscopy, Atomic Force
  • Microtechnology / methods
  • Nanotechnology / methods
  • Nanotubes / chemistry*
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • Particle Size
  • Probability
  • Static Electricity
  • Surface Properties

Substances

  • Gold
  • DNA