Abstract
BackgroundOne of the goals in the field of structural DNA nanotechnology is the use of DNA to build up 2- and 3-D nanostructures. The research in this field is motivated by the remarkable structural features of DNA as well as by its unique and reversible recognition properties. Nucleic acids can be used alone as the skeleton of a broad range of periodic nanopatterns and nanoobjects and in addition, DNA can serve as a linker or template to form DNA-hybrid structures with other materials. This approach can be used for the development of new detection strategies as well as nanoelectronic structures and devices.MethodHere we present a new method for the generation of unprecedented all-organic conjugated-polymer nanoparticle networks guided by DNA, based on a hierarchical self-assembly process. First, microphase separation of amphiphilic block copolymers induced the formation of spherical nanoobjects. As a second ordering concept, DNA base pairing has been employed for the controlled spatial definition of the conjugated-polymer particles within the bulk material. These networks offer the flexibility and the diversity of soft polymeric materials. Thus, simple chemical methodologies could be applied in order to tune the network's electrical, optical and mechanical properties.Results and conclusionsOne- two- and three-dimensional networks have been successfully formed. Common to all morphologies is the integrity of the micelles consisting of DNA block copolymer (DBC), which creates an all-organic engineered network.
Highlights
One of the goals in the field of structural DNA nanotechnology is the use of DNA to build up 2- and 3-D nanostructures
Common to all morphologies is the integrity of the micelles consisting of DNA block copolymer (DBC), which creates an all-organic engineered network
The resulting spherical aggregates with cores consisting of polyfluorene and shells composed of single-stranded DNA were visualized on a mica surface by atomic-force microscopy (AFM), showed an average height of 8 ± 3 nm
Summary
One of the goals in the field of structural DNA nanotechnology is the use of DNA to build up 2- and 3-D nanostructures. The use of DNA to build 2- and 3-D nanostructures is based on its remarkable structural features as well as on its unique and reversible recognition properties In this newly-established field, called structural DNA nanotechnology, nucleic acids can be used alone as the skeleton of a broad range of periodic nanopatterns and nanoobjects [1,2,3,4,5]. In the alternative hybrid approach, networks are generated from synthetic polymers with oligonucleotides as cross-linking units Such materials are sensitive to temperature [15] and DNA host molecules [16] and change their mechanical properties reversibly upon the addition of DNA sequences [17]. By choosing the sequence it is even possible to generate different crystal structures [19]
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