Gold Nanoparticles: Weakly Charged Cationic Nanoparticles Induce DNA Bending and Strand Separation (Adv. Mater. 31/2012)

Abstract

On page 4261, A. V. Melechko, Y. G. Yingling, and co-workers show that weakly charged cationic nanoparticles cause structural changes including local denaturing and compaction to DNA under mild conditions. The foreground of the cover image shows molecular dynamics simulations of the collective action of weakly charged cationic nanoparticles, which results in DNA strand separation. In the background is an electrophoresis photograph in which a new band (lower left) appears upon addition of gold nanoparticles capped with a mixed monolayer containing cationic ligands.