DNA-Guided Nanoparticle Assemblies

Abstract

In some embodiments, DNA-capped nanoparticles are used to define a degree of crystalline order in assemblies thereof. In some embodiments, thermodynamically reversible and stable body-centered cubic (bcc) structures, with particles occupying <˜10% of the unit cell, are formed. Designs and pathways amenable to the crystallization of particle assemblies are identified. In some embodiments, a plasmonic crystal is provided. In some aspects, a method for controlling the properties of particle assemblages is provided. In some embodiments a catalyst is formed from nanoparticles linked by nucleic acid sequences and forming an open crystal structure with catalytically active agents attached to the crystal on its surface or in interstices.

1 . A plasmonic crystal comprising:
 a bio-inspired metamaterial displaying long-range three-dimensional crystalline order, the metamaterial comprising a plurality of nano-objects of types one and two, the nano-objects of type one functionalized with a first nucleic acid sequence comprising a linking region and a spacer region, wherein at least one segment of spacer region is double-stranded, the nano-objects of type two functionalized with a second nucleic acid sequence comprising a linking region and a spacer region, the functionalized nano-objects linked by hybridization of their respective linking regions, the linked nano-objects assembled into a non-close-packed crystal structure.   
     
     
         2 . The plasmonic crystal of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the linking regions of the nano-objects of types one and two are non-interacting;   the functionalized nano-objects are linked by hybridization of their respective linking regions with first and second recognition regions of a third nucleic acid sequence;   the first recognition region complementary to the linking region of the nano-objects of type one; and   the second recognition region complementary to the linking region of the nano-objects of type two.   
     
     
         3 . The plasmonic crystal of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second nucleic acid sequences comprise sequences of PNA. 
     
     
         4 . The plasmonic crystal of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second nucleic acid sequences are chosen from the group consisting of sequences of DNA, sequences of RNA, and sequences of RNA and sequences of DNA. 
     
     
         5 . The plasmonic crystal of  claim 1 , wherein the metamaterial has a body-centered cubic crystal structure. 
     
     
         6 . The plasmonic crystal of  claim 1 , wherein the functionalized nano-objects comprise less than about 10% of the volume of the crystal.