Fabrication of Metal Nanostructures on DNA Templates

Abstract

Metal nanoarchitectures fabrication based on DNA assembly has attracted a good deal of attention. DNA nanotechnology enables precise organization of nanoscale objects with extraordinary structural programmability. The spatial addressability of DNA nanostructures and sequence-dependent recognition allow functional elements to be precisely positioned; thus, novel functional materials that are difficult to produce using conventional methods could be fabricated. This review focuses on the recent development of the fabrication strategies toward manipulating the shape and morphology of metal nanoparticles and nanoassemblies based on the rational design of DNA structures. DNA-mediated metallization, including DNA-templated conductive nanowire fabrication and sequenceselective metal deposition, etc., is briefly introduced. The modifications of metal nanoparticles (NPs) with DNA and subsequent construction of heterogeneous metal nanoarchitectures are highlighted. Importantly, DNA-assembled dynamic metal nanostructures that are responsive to different stimuli are also discussed as they allow the design of smart and dynamic materials. Meanwhile, the prospects and challenges of these shape-and morphology-controlled strategies are summarized.

Synthesis and applications of anisotropic nanoparticles with precisely defined dimensions

“…[113][114][115] This complements the rich literature around the metallation of DNA nanostructures, which is by now a well-developed field. [116][117][118] DNA origami scaffolds have also been demonstrated to direct the assembly of lipids into structures that are not normally accessible, such as cuboids. 119 A benefit of the coating approach that should be noted is that the template can sometimes actively encourage materials that are challenging to crystallise on their own to form ordered structures.…”

Adaptive Nanoparticle‐Polymer Complexes as Optical Elements: Design and Application in Nanophotonics and Nanomedicine

“…Generally, pH control shows benefits in a simpler implementation, reversibility, zero generation of waste products and faster processing. [ 63,64 ] To functionalize NPs with DNA, deposition of DNA‐linkers onto the surface of NPs at certain angles to each other was used: it allowed one to create NP‐building blocks with a clearly defined DNA arrangement in all dimensions. The specific number and orientation of DNA chains on NPs led to the better control of the final shape of the nanomaterials.…”

Microbial Fabricated Nanosystems: Applications in Drug Delivery and Targeting

“…Diatoms have also been studied as an exceptional biotemplate for drug delivery applications owing to species-specific ordered architecture and flexibility for surface modifications (Chao et al, 2014). Some of the best illustrations of biotemplating are formation of metal nanowires due to intercalation of metal complexes in DNA strands (Li N. et al, 2019), Tobacco Mosaic Virus as the viral template to fabricate nanocrystals (Wnek et al, 2013) and replicating morphology of pollen grains to create TiO 2 microspheres (Yang et al, 2014). It is high time that the full potential of diatoms based drug delivery systems (DDS) is unfolded by necessary authorization in biomedicine application just as amorphous silica from diatoms have been approved for use in food and agriculture industry by the US FDA and is Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS, 21 CFR Section 573.340).…”