Controlled assembly of DNA nanostructures on silanized silicon and mica surfaces for future molecular devices

Abstract

In order to establish key technology for future molecular devices, we have explored the assembly behaviour of λ-deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) molecules adsorbed on silanized mica and silanized oxide silicon surfaces by using atomic force microscopy (AFM). AFM experiments show that λ-DNA molecules can be hardly adsorbed on untreated mica and oxidized silicon surfaces, but can be strongly adsorbed onto aminosilanized mica and oxidized silicon surfaces. Importantly, DNA molecules can be assembled into linear DNA alignment, and can also self-assemble into various network structures on the silanized surfaces. Our experimental observations have demonstrated the feasibility of assembling DNA-based nanostructures by varying surface chemistry of substrates, and offer useful clues in constructing DNA-based nanodevices for nanoelectronics and biomolecular computation as well as quantum computation.