Connecting DNA Origami Structures into a Designed and Functionalized Network

Abstract

The versatility of the DNA origami approach of organizing nanoparticles at the nanometer scale, together with thiol chemistry have been used. These approaches were used to design DNA origami structures and to functionalize them with gold nanoparticles after designing attachment sites on the DNA origami structures. In all two structures were designed – a cross-like structure and a nanotube but only the nanotube structure was used to form the gold nanoparticle helices. Finally, use was made of the specific affinity interaction between biotin and streptavidin to connect the DNA origami templated AuNP helices to the cross-like structure. Agarose gel electrophoresis, UV-vis spectroscopy and TEM were used to characterize the structure.