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A general strategy for the DNA-mediated self-assembly of functional nanoparticles into heterogeneous systems

Nature Nanotechnology volume 8, pages 865–872 (2013)Cite this article

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Abstract

Nanoparticles coated with DNA molecules can be programmed to self-assemble into three-dimensional superlattices. Such superlattices can be made from nanoparticles with different functionalities and could potentially exploit the synergetic properties of the nanoscale components. However, the approach has so far been used primarily with single-component systems. Here, we report a general strategy for the creation of heterogeneous nanoparticle superlattices using DNA and carboxylic-based conjugation. We show that nanoparticles with all major types of functionality—plasmonic (gold), magnetic (Fe2O3), catalytic (palladium) and luminescent (CdSe/Te@ZnS and CdSe@ZnS)—can be incorporated into binary systems in a rational manner. We also examine the effect of nanoparticle characteristics (including size, shape, number of DNA per particle and DNA flexibility) on the phase behaviour of the heterosystems, and demonstrate that the assembled materials can have novel optical and field-responsive properties.

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Figure 1: DNA conjugation and assembly of functional nanoparticles.
Figure 2: Systems of palladium and gold nanoparticles.
Figure 3: Systems of FeO and gold nanoparticles.
Figure 4: Systems of quantum dots and gold nanoparticles.
Figure 5: Phase diagram and interparticle distance for heterogeneous systems.

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Change history

  • 23 October 2013

    In the version of this Article originally published online in three instances 'CdS' should have read 'CdSe'. This error has now been corrected in all versions of the Article.

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Acknowledgements

Research carried out at the Center for Functional Nanomaterials and National Synchrotron Light Source (Brookhaven National Laboratory) was supported by the US Department of Energy, Office of Basic Energy Sciences (contract no. DE-AC02-98CH10886).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Functional Nanomaterials, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York, 11973, USA

    Yugang Zhang, Fang Lu, Kevin G. Yager & Oleg Gang

  2. Center for Agricultural and Environmental Biotechnology, Research Triangle Institute International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 12194, USA

    Daniel van der Lelie

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  1. Yugang Zhang
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  2. Fang Lu
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  4. Daniel van der Lelie
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Contributions

Y.G.Z., F.L., D.v.d.L. and O.G. initiated the concept. Y.G.Z. and O.G. designed the experiments. Y.G.Z. performed the experiments and analysed the data, F.L. contributed to particle functionalization and measurements. Y.G.Z. and O.G. wrote the paper. K.G.Y. contributed to the SAXS modelling and analysis. O.G. supervised the project. All authors discussed the results and commented on the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Oleg Gang.

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Zhang, Y., Lu, F., Yager, K. et al. A general strategy for the DNA-mediated self-assembly of functional nanoparticles into heterogeneous systems. Nature Nanotech 8, 865–872 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2013.209

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