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Flexibility defines structure in crystals of amphiphilic DNA nanostars
Authors:
Ryan
Brady
(University of Cambridge)
,
Will T.
Kaufhold
(University of Cambridge)
,
Nicholas J.
Brooks
(Imperial College London)
,
Vito
Foderà
(University of Copenhagen)
,
Lorenzo
Di Michele
(University of Cambridge)
Co-authored by industrial partner:
No
Type:
Journal Paper
Journal:
Journal Of Physics: Condensed Matter
, VOL 31
State:
Published (Approved)
Published:
February 2019
Diamond Proposal Number(s):
17271
,
16970
Abstract: DNA nanostructures with programmable shape and interactions can be used as building blocks for the self-assembly of crystalline materials with prescribed nanoscale features, holding a vast technological potential. Structural rigidity and bond directionality have been recognised as key design features for DNA motifs to sustain long-range order in 3D, but the practical challenges associated with prescribing building-block geometry with sufficient accuracy have limited the variety of available designs. We have recently introduced a novel platform for the one-pot preparation of crystalline DNA frameworks supported by a combination of Watson–Crick base pairing and hydrophobic forces (Brady et al 2017 Nano Lett. 17 3276–81). Here we use small angle x-ray scattering and coarse-grained molecular simulations to demonstrate that, as opposed to available all-DNA approaches, amphiphilic motifs do not rely on structural rigidity to support long-range order. Instead, the flexibility of amphiphilic DNA building-blocks is a crucial feature for successful crystallisation.
Subject Areas:
Chemistry,
Physics,
Materials
Instruments:
B21-High Throughput SAXS
,
I22-Small angle scattering & Diffraction
Added On:
14/03/2019 12:10
Discipline Tags:
Biomaterials
Physics
Soft condensed matter physics
Chemistry
Materials Science
Chemical Engineering
Engineering & Technology
Nanoscience/Nanotechnology
Technical Tags:
Scattering
Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS)