AFM observations of self-assembled lambda DNA network on silanized mica

Abstract

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to explore self-assembly behavior of λ-DNA molecules adsorbed to bare mica and aminosilanized mica surfaces. AFM experiments show that λ-DNA molecules can be hardly adsorbed on bare mica surface, but can be strongly adsorbed and can be self-assembled into DNA network on silanized mica surface. Interestingly, a new neural-like DNA network structure was observed on the mica surface derivatized by N-(2-aminoethyl)-3-aminopropyl-trimethoxysilane, differing quite from the mesh network structure on the mica surface modified by aminopropylytriethoxy silane (APS). Our experimental results can offer the possibility for constructing DNA-based nanostructures on solid surface. The formation of the neural-like network was also discussed in this article.