Surface and bulk dissolution properties, and selectivity of DNA-linked nanoparticle assemblies.
Using a simple mean-field model, we analyze the surface and bulk dissolution properties of DNA-linked nanoparticle assemblies. We find that the dissolution temperature and the sharpness of the dissolution profiles increase with the grafting density of the single-stranded DNA "probes" on the surface of colloids. The surface grafting density is controlled by the linker occupation number, in analogy with quantum particles obeying fractional statistics. The dissolution temperature increases logarithmically with the salt concentration. This is in agreement with the experimental findings [R. Jin, G. Wu, Z. Li, C. A. Mirkin, and G. C. Schatz, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 125, 1643 (2003)]. By exploiting the unique phase behavior of DNA-coated colloids, it should be possible to detect multiple "targets" in a single experiment by essentially mapping the DNA base-pair sequence onto the phase behavior of DNA-linked nanoparticle solution.
FOM Institute for Atomic and Molecular Physics [AMOLF], Kruislaan 407, 1098 SJ Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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Lukatsky
Daan
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Frenkel
D000465:Algorithms; D001483:Base Sequence; D003102:Colloids / Q000737:chemistry; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded / Q000737:chemistry*; D008954:Models, Biological; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D013696:Temperature
D003102:Colloids; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded