Selective, controllable, and reversible aggregation of polystyrene latex microspheres via DNA hybridization.
The directed three-dimensional self-assembly of microstructures and nanostructures through the selective hybridization of DNA is the focus of great interest toward the fabrication of new materials. Single-stranded DNA is covalently attached to polystyrene latex microspheres. Single-stranded DNA can function as a sequence-selective Velcro by only bonding to another strand of DNA that has a complementary sequence. The attachment of the DNA increases the charge stabilization of the microspheres and allows controllable aggregation of microspheres by hybridization of complementary DNA sequences. In a mixture of microspheres derivatized with different sequences of DNA, microspheres with complementary DNA form aggregates, while microspheres with noncomplementary sequences remain suspended. The process is reversible by heating, with a characteristic "aggregate dissociation temperature" that is predictably dependent on salt concentration, and the evolution of aggregate dissociation with temperature is observed with optical microscopy.
Rogers
Phillip H
PH
Physics Department, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, California 93407, USA.
Michel
Eric
E
Bauer
Carl A
CA
Vanderet
Stephen
S
Hansen
Daniel
D
Roberts
Bradley K
BK
Calvez
Antoine
A
Crews
Jackson B
JB
Lau
Kwok O
KO
Wood
Alistair
A
Pine
David J
DJ
Schwartz
Peter V
PV
D001483:Base Sequence; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D007840:Latex / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D008863:Microspheres; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D013499:Surface Properties
D007840:Latex; D011137:Polystyrenes; D004247:DNA