Abstract
Macroscopic unique self-assembled structures are produced via double-stranded DNA formation (hybridization) as a specific binding essential in biological systems. However, a large amount of complementary DNA molecules are usually required to form an optically observable structure via natural hybridization, and the detection of small amounts of DNA less than femtomole requires complex and time-consuming procedures. Here, we demonstrate the laser-induced acceleration of hybridization between zeptomole-level DNA and DNA-modified nanoparticles (NPs), resulting in the assembly of a submillimetre network-like structure at the desired position with a dramatic spectral modulation within several minutes. The gradual enhancement of light-induced force and convection facilitated the two-dimensional network growth near the air-liquid interface with optical and fluidic symmetry breakdown. The simultaneous microscope observation and local spectroscopy revealed that the assembling process and spectral change are sensitive to the DNA sequence. Our findings establish innovative guiding principles for facile bottom-up production via various biomolecular recognition events.
Highlights
The helical structure of DNA was identified in 19531
Another report described the rapid assembly of small objects by “light-induced convection (LIC)” of high-density metallic NPs initially fixed on micro beads[25], wherein a macroscopic bubble was simultaneously generated by the strong infrared photothermal effect
In order to characterize the early steps of optical acceleration of DNA double-strand formation by light-induced force (LIF), we analysed the hybridization of probe NPs and target DNA using our developed theoretical method Light-induced Molecular Recognition Metropolis Method (LMRM) [see Methods]
Summary
The helical structure of DNA was identified in 19531. Subsequently, gene analysis methods, such as the Sanger method and PCR, were developed[2,3] and the human genome sequencing was completed in the early 21st century[4]. The spectral broadening by plasmonic superradiance and redshift as collective phenomena of LSPs26 through the soft assembling process of dispersed metallic NPs by LIF would facilitate the gradual enhancement of photothermal effect and LIC Based on such a strategy, we aim at the development of the guiding principle for “Light-induced Acceleration of DNA hybridization” mediated by NPs to form a macroscopic network stably. For this purpose, we try to enhance the photothermal effect by exploiting the collective phenomena of LSPs via the assembly process of low-density probe NPs and target substances for the moderate enhancement of LIC in addition to LIF with molecular recognition. There, the symmetry in the optical field and the liquid flow was broken, the positive feedback under the nonequilibrium process by the synergetic combination of LIF and LIC would play crucial roles in an assembling process of macroscopic network
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