Site-Specific Surface Functionalization of Gold Nanorods Using DNA Origami Clamps

J Am Chem Soc. 2016 Feb 17;138(6):1764-7. doi: 10.1021/jacs.5b11566. Epub 2016 Feb 3.

Abstract

Precise control over surface functionalities of nanomaterials offers great opportunities for fabricating complex functional nanoarchitectures but still remains challenging. In this work, we successfully developed a novel strategy to modify a gold nanorod (AuNR) with specific surface recognition sites using a DNA origami clamp. AuNRs were encapsulated by the DNA origami through hybridization of single-stranded DNA on the AuNRs and complementary capture strands inside the clamp. Another set of capture strands on the outside of the clamp create the specific recognition sites on the AuNR surface. By means of this strategy, AuNRs were site-specifically modified with gold nanoparticles at the top, middle, and bottom of the surface, respectively, to construct a series of well-defined heterostructures with controlled "chemical valence". Our study greatly expands the utility of DNA origami as a tool for building complex nanoarchitectures and represents a new approach for precise tailoring of nanomaterial surfaces.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • DNA, Single-Stranded / chemistry*
  • Gold / chemistry*
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Nanotubes / chemistry*
  • Nucleic Acid Hybridization
  • Surface Properties

Substances

  • DNA, Single-Stranded
  • Gold