Nanotools and materials assembled from DNA

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• Prof. Tim Liedl, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
• Friday 19 October 2018, 16:00-17:00
• Small Lecture Theatre, Cavendish Laboratory.

If you have a question about this talk, please contact Lorenzo Di Michele.

DNA has proven to be an excellent choice of molecule for programmable self-assembly. In recent years, DNA self-assembly has surpassed its early stages and today is routinely used for constructing functional two- and three-dimensional nanomachines and materials [1,2]. By defining attachment sites for active components on DNA structures, our group has realised complex and nanometer-precise assemblies of biomolecules, organic fluorophores and inorganic nanoparticles [3,4]. We employed these devices to create new plasmonic effects and I will show how these effects, in turn, enable the selective and sensitive detection of proteins and virus-derived RNA molecules [5]. The initial thrust catalyzing the rapid development of DNA nanotechnology has been to arrange periodic DNA frameworks to host guest molecules for crystal structure analysis. Despite enormous efforts and fundamental progress, placing guest molecules in designed DNA crystals remains a challenging goal. By adopting design principles of Ned Seeman and Chengde Mao [6], we are now able to crystallise DNA origami structures that grow into three dimensional, micrometer-scale assemblies [7]. Silicification of these crystals leads to designer nanomaterials that withstand drying without structural deformation.

Our results demonstrate the assembly power of DNA self-assembly and our ability to fabricate functional devices and 3D materials that are designed on the molecular level while reaching macroscopic dimensions.

1. P. W. K. Rothemund, Nature 440, 297–302 (2006) 2. N. C. Seeman, Annu. Rev. Biochem. 79, 12.1 (2010) 3. R. Schreiber et al. Nature Nanotechnology 9, 74-78 (2014) 4. P. Nickels et al. Science, 354, 305-307 (2016) 5. T. Funck et al., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 57, 1-5 (2018) 6. J. Zheng et al. Nature 461, 74-77 (2009) 7. T. Zhang et al. Advanced Materials, doi: 10.1002/adma.201800273 (2018)

This talk is part of the Assembly and Function of Complex Systems series.

This talk is included in these lists:

• All Cavendish Laboratory Seminars
• Assembly and Function of Complex Systems
• Centre for Health Leadership and Enterprise
• Efficient and intuitive modelling of electromagnetic nanoresonators and complex metasurfaces
• Featured lists
• ME Seminar
• Neurons, Fake News, DNA and your iPhone: The Mathematics of Information
• School of Physical Sciences
• Small Lecture Theatre, Cavendish Laboratory
• Thin Film Magnetic Talks

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