Abstract
Self-assembling molecular building blocks able to dynamically change their shapes, is a concept that would offer a route to reconfigurable systems. Although simulation studies predict novel properties useful for applications in diverse fields, such kinds of building blocks, have not been implemented thus far with molecules. Here, we report shape-variable building blocks fabricated by DNA self-assembly. Blocks are movable enough to undergo shape transitions along geometrical ranges. Blocks connect to each other and assemble into polymorphic ring-shaped clusters via the stacking of DNA blunt-ends. Reconfiguration of the polymorphic clusters is achieved by the surface diffusion on mica substrate in response to a monovalent salt concentration. This work could inspire novel reconfigurable self-assembling systems for applications in molecular robotics.
Highlights
Structures that can change their shapes are of interest at all scales, for the potential applications, and because the design principles may be used across scales [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8]
Of particular interest is the metamorphosis of clusters of mechatronic modules [3], where incorporated degrees-of-freedom allowed shape transitions in each module, generating locomotion and reconfiguration of the modules as a whole
Our experimental setup provides a platform for studying the cluster disassembly and re-assembly on substrate in response to a monovalent salt concentration
Summary
Structures that can change their shapes are of interest at all scales, for the potential applications, and because the design principles may be used across scales [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8]. The work on micro- and nano-reconfigurable structures has recently inspired different simulation studies for the assembly and reconfiguration of assemblies of shape-changing nanorods, shape-shifting blocks, patchy nanoparticles with dynamic covalent bonds, and flexible lock-and-key colloids [21,22,23,24,25]. These simulations predict notable properties, such as switchable band gaps for optical devices or tunable pores for drug delivery, the field is open for actual molecular structures with variable shapes. Our experimental setup provides a platform for studying the cluster disassembly and re-assembly (reconfiguration) on substrate in response to a monovalent salt concentration
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