Assembly/Disassembly of DNA‐Au Nanoparticles: A Strategy of Intervention

I-Im S Lim,Uma Chandrachud,Lingyan Wang,Susannah Gal,Chuan-Jian Zhong

doi:10.1155/2008/527294

Abstract

This report describes the viability of a strategy for manipulating the assembly/disassembly processes of DNA‐Au nanoparticles by molecular intervention. Using the temperature‐induced assembly and disassembly processes of DNAs and gold nanoparticles as a model system, the introduction of a molecular recognition probe is demonstrated to lead to the intervention of the assembly/disassembly processes depending on its specific biorecognition. This process can be detected by monitoring the change in the optical properties of gold nanoparticles and their DNA assemblies. Implications of the preliminary results to exploration of the resulting nanostructures for fine‐tuning of the interfacial reactivities in DNA‐based bioassays and biomaterial engineering are also discussed.

Highlights

The pioneering work on DNA mediated assemblies of gold nanoparticles by Mirkin et al [1,2,3] has opened the door to a host of potential applications in biological sensing, medical diagnostics, and drug delivery
While much has been learned about the assembly process, relatively little is known about the disassembly process
We describe the preliminary results of a study of the viability of manipulating the assembly/ disassembly processes of DNA and Au nanoparticles by molecular intervention

Summary

Recommended by Yoke Khin Yap

This report describes the viability of a strategy for manipulating the assembly/disassembly processes of DNA-Au nanoparticles by molecular intervention. Using the temperature-induced assembly and disassembly processes of DNAs and gold nanoparticles as a model system, the introduction of a molecular recognition probe is demonstrated to lead to the intervention of the assembly/disassembly processes depending on its specific biorecognition. This process can be detected by monitoring the change in the optical properties of gold nanoparticles and their DNA assemblies. Implications of the preliminary results to exploration of the resulting nanostructures for fine-tuning of the interfacial reactivities in DNA-based bioassays and biomaterial engineering are discussed

INTRODUCTION

Research Letters in Nanotechnology

Complementary binding