2014 journal article

Programmable DNA tile self-assembly using a hierarchical sub-tile strategy

NANOTECHNOLOGY, 25(7).

co-author countries: China 🇨🇳 United States of America 🇺🇸
author keywords: DNA self-assembly; DNA tile; sub-tile; structural DNA nanotechnology; programmable nanostructure
MeSH headings : Algorithms; DNA / analysis; DNA / chemistry; DNA, Single-Stranded / chemistry; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Microscopy, Atomic Force; Nanostructures / chemistry; Nanotechnology; Nucleic Acid Conformation; Nucleic Acid Hybridization; Oligonucleotides / chemistry
Source: Web Of Science
Added: August 6, 2018

DNA tile based self-assembly provides a bottom-up approach to construct desired nanostructures. DNA tiles have been directly constructed from ssDNA and readily self-assembled into 2D lattices and 3D superstructures. However, for more complex lattice designs including algorithmic assemblies requiring larger tile sets, a more modular approach could prove useful. This paper reports a new DNA 'sub-tile' strategy to easily create whole families of programmable tiles. Here, we demonstrate the stability and flexibility of our sub-tile structures by constructing 3-, 4- and 6-arm DNA tiles that are subsequently assembled into 2D lattices and 3D nanotubes according to a hierarchical design. Assembly of sub-tiles, tiles, and superstructures was analyzed using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and atomic force microscopy. DNA tile self-assembly methods provide a bottom-up approach to create desired nanostructures; the sub-tile strategy adds a useful new layer to this technique. Complex units can be made from simple parts. The sub-tile approach enables the rapid redesign and prototyping of complex DNA tile sets and tiles with asymmetric designs.