Stabilization of Colloidal Crystals Engineered with DNA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering Northwestern University 2220 Campus Drive Evanston IL 60208 USA
- Department of Chemistry Northwestern University 2145 Sheridan Road Evanston IL 60208 USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering Northwestern University 2220 Campus Drive Evanston IL 60208 USA, Department of Chemistry Northwestern University 2145 Sheridan Road Evanston IL 60208 USA
Abstract A postsynthetic method for stabilizing colloidal crystals programmed from DNA is developed. The method relies on Ag + ions to stabilize the particle‐connecting DNA duplexes within the crystal lattice, essentially transforming them from loosely bound structures to ones with very strong interparticle links. Such crystals do not dissociate as a function of temperature like normal DNA or DNA‐interconnected superlattices, and they can be moved from water to organic media or the solid state, and stay intact. The Ag + ‐stabilization of the DNA bonds is accompanied by a nondestructive ≈25% contraction of the lattice, and both the stabilization and contraction are reversible with the chemical extraction of the Ag + ions, by AgCl precipitation with NaCl. This synthetic tool is important, since it allows scientists and engineers to study such crystals in environments that are incompatible with structures made by conventional DNA programmable methods and without the influence of a matrix such as silica.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- Grant/Contract Number:
- SC0000989; AC02-06CH11357
- OSTI ID:
- 1479587
- Alternate ID(s):
- OSTI ID: 1781721; OSTI ID: 1783849
- Journal Information:
- Advanced Materials, Journal Name: Advanced Materials Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 31; ISSN 0935-9648
- Publisher:
- Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)Copyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- Germany
- Language:
- English
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